STAXTON were the big winners on a rain-hit Saturday in the Readers Scarborough Beckett League as they moved 28 points clear at the top of the premier division.

Staxton's home game with Seamer was the only top tier match to beat the weather, and it saw the hosts collect maximum points from a 100-run victory.

James Armstrong (53) and Nick Gibson (55) hit half-centuries and Dan Bulman (41) and Chris Dove (27) also contributed to a Staxton's first innings score of 229-7.

Anthony Jenkinson made 54 in reply for Seamer but Ed Cooper breezed through the batting line-up to finish with 6-24 as the visitors were bowled out for 129.

Scalby had their lower order to thank for avoiding humilation - if not defeat - at leaders Grindale in division 'A'.

The visitors won the toss and, having invited Grindale to take first knock in a game reduced to 43 overs, they were set a target of 151-8, Ben Jackson top scoring with 40.

However, they could hardly have got off to the worse start as opening bowlers Liam Cousins and Tom Jackson had them reeling at 7-5 from 10 overs.

Scalby limped to 32-8 after 20 overs before Mike Buttery (35 not out) and P Hesp (24) added 55 for the ninth wicket, before Cousins and Jackson returned to the attack, with the latter having Hesp caught behind by Simon Battams.

Jackson finished with 6-15 from 13.4 overs, eight of which were maidens, and Cousins finished with 2-13 from seven

Wold Newton enjoyed their first win of term by winning at fellow strugglers Sewerby II by five wickets.

The hosts looked untroubled at 30 without loss after eight overs, but tight bowling from Oliver West (1-33 off 15 overs) allowed Mark Holtby to take two wickets in two balls at the other end.

This brought Cameron Rusbridge Burns (23) to the crease and he made a good stand with Ian Dennis (41), but a wicket after drinks got Newton's tails up and Sewerby fell to 128 all out, the pick of the bowlers being James Knaggs (4-13 off seven overs).

Wold Newton took their time in reply but kept wickets in hand as they opened with a 51 partnership between Dave Southwell (30) and Gwaine Hogg (37).

Accurate line and length from J Searby eventually got the breakthrough and tight bowling from Vince O’Grady (2-21 off 10 overs) kept things quiet but Wold Newton still reached their target with five wickets spare.

Ryedale enjoyed a good seven-wicket win over Staxton II in division 'B'.

Dan Hardey was the star of the show, making an unbeaten 72 to take his team to their target.

Staxton had been all out for 102, of which Ryan Hargreaves made 29, as Michael Temple returned figures of 3-14).

In division 'C', Heslerton II closed the gap to leaders Scalby II thanks to a narrow win by just six runs - set up be a brilliant opening partnership.

In a match reduced to 30 overs, visitors Heslerton totalled 193-5, with Tony Watson making 82 and skipper James Almond 74, putting on 169 in the first stand before the wickets began to fall. Tony Geall (4-41) took all but one of the wickets to fall.

Replying, Scalby were almost out of contention until a late flurry of runs swung the match around - only for Watson to enter the attack and claim three late wickets for only five runs to end an exciting climax in Heslerton’s favour and seal the man-of-the-match award.

For Scalby, Alex White made 33, Freddie Schmuck 41 and Grant Ellwell 28. Phill Coverdale took 4-60 for Heslerton.