HESLERTON strengthened their grip on the Readers Scarborough Beckett League premier division title race after holding on for victory over relegation-threatened Cayton in a game which swung both ways.

Alex Carrie and Anthony Stones got the leaders away to a promising start, putting on 49 for the opening wicket.

Carrie continued to 53 and, with Kristian Wilkinson (25), was responsible for their 181-9, a total which would have been greater but for the loss of three quick wickets after they had reached 157-5. Their cause was not helped by three run-outs and a miserly 14-over spell of 1-38 by Paul Woodhead.

Replying, the home openers looked to have taken the game away from Heslerton, Paul Woodhead (52) and club stalwart Jez Riley (65) featuring in stand of 107 in 29 overs before Woodhead was bowled by Wilkinson. Riley’s innings included nine fours.

Number four Tom Sixsmith remained unbeaten on 29 but the other batsmen collapsed as Adam Spaven (3-50) and Andrew Slaughter (3-33), who bowled a final spell of 3-14 at the end, reduced them to 167-9 at the close.

Forge Valley moved into second position after Mick Glew smashed the Staithes attack for 14 fours and three sixes in a powerful 131, featuring in an opening stand of 136 with Tom Brough (54) and adding 131 for the second wicket with Nigel Kendrew (51no). Valley posted 267-3, and James Tindall (7-48) then ripped through Staithes line-up as they were all out for 88.

Brothers Pete Hill (64) and skipper Geoff (43) took Flixton 2nds to 180-7 after 45 overs at Ebberston, for whom Mathew Webster claimed 4-54.

But it was no contest on the resumption as Eddie Craggs smashed 102 not out, including 16 fours and three sixes, and Matty Turnbull 74 not out, including 13 fours and two sixes, the pair knocking off the runs in 21 overs.

Phil France (17) and Paul Virr (15) were the only batsmen to figure as basement club Cloughton totalled 73 at Staxton, for whom Andrew Holtby claimed 3-9. Nick Gibson (48no) then led the home side to victory by nine wickets.

Leaders Filey had no match in division ‘A’ – giving the chasing pack a chance to catch up.

Seamer picked up 19 points after bowling out visitors Brompton for 180, Sam Cooper (57) and Tom Pateman (66) scoring well as Sam Park (4-44) and Matt Morris (3-30) bowled well for the home team.

Joe Danby (35), Joe Tiffany (53) and Greg Chadwick (59no), the latter pair adding 98 for the third wicket, knocked off the runs for a seven-wicket win inside 35 overs.

Sherburn also moved back into contention after bowling out hosts Nawton Grange for 176, Jonny Pickard (25) and Mick Thornicroft (68) their main scorers as Nick Dob-son took 3-19 and Phil Pickard 4-49.

Replying, Craig Sanderson (34), Simon Dobson (28), Stu Pickard (41) and Kev Metcalfe (35no) took the visitors to victory by seven wickets.

Settrington are losing ground fast, being bowled out for 90 at Sewerby.

Charlie Rounthwaite (43) scored almost half his team’s runs as Mark Davies (3-18), Dominic Warters (3-27) and Cameron Rusbridge-Burns (3-7) created problems aplenty.

Sewerby won by five wickets, despite Jonty Rounthwaite’s 3-26.

Wold Newton claimed their first victory of the season, against fellow strugglers Scalby.

Charlie Gray (49no) and Ant Yates (22) took Newton to 137 at the break, Paul Hesp (3-41), J Burton (3-39) and S Fox (3-18) bowling well for Scalby, who in turn were bowled out for 62, Oliver West and Will Gray starring with 3-18 with 4-18 respectively.

 

Park second string unable to halt leaders

Duncombe Park 2nds were unable to stop Grindale’s charge to the Readers Scarborough Beckett League division ‘B’ crown after being bowled out for 147.

T Brockton (42), Jeremy Lascelles (33) and Andrew Leckenby (29no) led the way with the bat for visitors Park as Josh Dawson (3-35) and Ian Cousins (3-33) were successful with the ball.

In reply, Cousins (41) and Richard Jackson (23) gave the home team a good start, putting on 64 for the opening partnership, which was followed by an unbroken third-wicket stand of 63 between Josh Dawson (46no) and James Watson (21no), which took Grindale to victory.

Wykeham kept in touch near the top after Glyn Botterill hit an unbeaten 111 from 147 balls including 14 fours and three sixes out of their total of 223-5 against Forge Valley 2nds.

Sam Collin (25) and James Bryant (42) kept the runs flowing.

After the interval, Nick Cook (25) and Stephen Smith (41) were the visitors’ leading scorers but Gareth Barnard (3-37) and Ian Spence (3-19) bowled the home team to victory by 91 runs.

Danny Walker (88no) continued his rich vein of form, carrying his bat for Ryedale against Cayton 2nds, anchoring the innings as Alex Ibbotson (30) and Rob Featherstone (38) helped take the home team to 198-4 after 45 overs.

Simon Glave picked up 3-48 in 16 overs for the visitors.

Replying, Josh Brown (38), Ian Dennis (34) and Steve Roswold (27) tried in vain, but Ibbotson (3-37) and Gary Newton (6-39) restricted them to 152 and defeat by 46 runs.

Steve Husband (51) dug in to help Fylingdales to 117-9 in their 45 overs against Staxton 2nds, for whom Dan Outhet claimed 4-53 and Chris Brown 4-58.

The total proved beyond the visitors as they were bowled out by Mark Jackson (6-34) and Mark Estill (3-27) for 72.

Bridlington 2nds proved far too strong for a young Scarborough 3rds team, posting 230-3 before bowling the visitors out for 52, having been 18-5 after the first 20 overs.

 

Thornton go top – for a day

LEADERSHIP of Readers Scarborough Beckett League division ‘C’ changed hands twice over the weekend.

On Saturday, Ganton beat table-toppers Scalby 2nds on their own ground in a high-scoring match, which enabled Thornton-le-Dale to take a one-point lead at the top after winning by 13 runs at Staithes 2nds.

However, Scalby 2nds bounced back 24 hours later by edging Staithes in the last over.

Alistair Limb crashed 17 fours and five sixes in a tremendous knock of 139 for Ganton on Saturday. Rob Gretton (101no) also starred, the pair putting on 148 for the fourth wicket, with Gretton hitting a six off the last ball to bring up his century, which included eight fours and six sixes.

This saw the visitors take tea on 305-5.

Scalby 2nds were then bowled out for 200, Lee Kerr (25), Nigel Clapham (47), Paul Marton (35) and Alex White (44) all getting started without continuing to match-winning scores, as Limb (4-43) proved his all-round abilities.

Oliver Sigsworth (36) and Mathew Clark (24) took Thornton-le-Dale to 180-8 after their 45 overs before their side bowled Staithes 2nds out for 167 despite Paul Wilson’s 55 and Zac Tennant’s 37. Chris Headlam (3-77) and Colin Lockwood (3-12) took the honours.

Cloughton 2nds moved off the bottom after an encouraging display against Ebberston 2nds.

John Fewster (26), Liam Salt (95), Simon Monsey (32) and Jez Pratt (54no) took Cloughton to 235-8, Henry Harrison claiming 4-55 for the visitors, who were all out for 133, Tom Holmes (49) their main scorer as Paul Goodenough took 5-52 and Steve Chambers 3-50.

Heslerton 2nds picked up their second consecutive victory after attaining 228-8 on their own pitch against Wykeham 2nds.

James Almond (90) and Simon Oxendale (37) added 82 for their third wicket and Almond and Ryan Oxendale (29) 73 for the fourth. Heslerton then bowled out the visitors for 178, D Lorcarn (31), B Metcalfe (33) and Ian Thompson (31) threatening a higher total as Mark Dring claimed 3-69.

Ravenscar’s match against Seamer bizarrely had to be abandoned as sea fog enveloped the field making play impossible.

Sunday brought better luck for Scalby. Bradley Walker’s 78 was topped by a century for White (104) as they made 248-7 against hosts Staithes 2nds, who had victory in sight with eight runs needed off the last over thanks to Paul Wilson’s 75 and Paul Theaker’s 71 – only to suffer two run-outs and end all out four runs short. Tom Gregory took 5-86.