A SPLENDID all-round show by Aussie Michael Dawson saw Heslerton continue to press Staxton at the top of the Scarborough Beckett League premier division.

Dawson hit 77 and took 3-12 as second-placed Hezzo comfortably beat Filey by 61 runs for a 19-point haul.

Victory centres on a fourth-wicket partnership of 62 between Dawson and Sam Triffitt which enabled Heslerton to take tea on 183-6 after their 45 overs. Triffitt was bowled by Nathan Robson for 27, while Dawson was caught on the boundary in a late rush to boost the total.

Paul Bowes and Robson claimed two wickets each.

Replying, the visitors were on the back foot after losing Bowes without a run on the board and, at 47-6, an early finish looked afoot.

However, a fighting 66 from 79 balls by Aaron Howard and 21 from Richard Burrell boosted the score to 102-7. When Burrell was bowled by Dawson and Howard was caught by Tony Watson off Kristian Wilkinson (3-19), the innings closed on 122.

Staxton, however, eked up their lead at the top of the table by claiming all 20 points in victory over Cayton - despite coming up against a centurion in Michael Dennis.

Staxton's batters made sure maximum spoils was possible, led by Chris Dove, who top-scored with 72 in a total of 285-5. Paul Witty (56), Dan Bulman (42) and Adam Hargreaves (33) made good contributions.

Dennis cracked 134 in response and Rhys Crowe added 44 but Cayton were all out for 226, as Elliott Cooper finished with 5-57 and Adrian Long 3-51.

Forge Valley remain third after humiliating Flixton II.

The hosts were dismissed for 203 by Pete Hill (5-44) and Lee Elvidge (3-40) before lowly Flixton were shot out for a paltry 22 as Nasar Kahn (4-3) and Tom Bumby (6-18) ripped through them.

Seamer stayed bottom as they were all out for 76 chasing Staithes' 281-7, of which Richard Heggarty made 92.

In mid-table, overseas ace Jaques Budricks cracked 52 not out and Dave Gardner 36 to take Kirkbymoorside to victory at Ebberston by seven wickets.

The hosts had been all out for 116, Tom Brickman making 35 as Dan Jeminson took a fine 5-27.

Ebberston II became the latest team to fall to runaway division 'C' leaders Scalby II.

The hosts racked up 215-4, Tim Barton topping the list with 72, before bowling out Ebberston for 87, of which Simon Pickering made 38. G Wilson took 3-26 and Tony Geall 3-11 but their figures were topped by John Barton's 3-8.

Ravenscar likewise look nailed on for promotion after they skittled Fylingdales II for 49, Dinesh Swaminathan taking 3-16. Roy Thompson had bagged 4-22 in Ravenscar's 106-8.

Heslerton II's hopes of catching them took a blow as they lost at Seamer II.

Heslerton won the toss and had the hosts in bother at 10-2 before a stand of 75 between T Irwin (34) and Craig Baker put them in a good position, the latter going on to get exactly 100 in a total of 246-9.

In reply, Heslerton never got going and wickets fell steadily, the best of the batting coming from Tom Milner (35) and Mark Dring (27) before they were all out for 117 in 26 overs. Paul Greenhough took 3-29.

Andy Shepherdson hit 63 as Wykeham II won by four wickets at Cloughton II, for whom Pickering Town football star Liam Salt cracked 87 in their all out total of 173.

 

Call-off controversy over pitch

DIVISION ‘A’ of the Scarborough Beckett League has been hit by controversy after league bosses were called in to rule on the match between Brompton and Grindale.

The game was called off after mid-table hosts Brompton deemed their pitch unplayable after some overnight rain, but no other games in the area fell foul of the weather on what was a generally sunny day and Grindale, needing points in their fight for promotion, reckoned the match should have gone ahead.

The pitch was inspected by the league and, while they have not said whether they think it was playable or not, the official result is now under committee review.

Both sides have provisionally been awarded five points but if the league find in favour of Grindale, they could be handed the match with Brompton facing punishment.

Leaders Scalby, meanwhile, marched on with a five-wicket win at Wold Newton.

Dave Southwell, inset, made 37 and Charles Gray 34 for the hosts but their team generally struggled against Paul Hesp (6-37) and ended on 155-9. Oliver West claimed 3-33 in the reply but A Schmuck (54no) took Scalby home.

Wykeham stayed on the top two’s heels by beating Sherburn by 65 runs - despite being all out for 135 when taking first knock.

Ethon Pashby top-scored with 31 as Dan Simpson claimed 5-38 and Stu Pickard 3-3.

Sherburn were skittled for 70 as Dave Pearson took four wickets for a solitary run.

Settrington remained in relegation danger after being all out for 82 at home to Nawton Grange, for whom Michael Wiermouth took 4-29 and Nick Thornicroft 3-18.

Fellow strugglers Sewerby II fared worse against Cloughton, though, being all back in the pavilion for 47 as Pete Milner claimed a superb 6-14 and fellow opening bowler Mark Wells 3-10.

The young Sewerby side had collapsed from 10-0 to 18-5 and then 27-9 before a last-wicket partnership made the game last that little bit longer.

Sewerby decided to give their young bowlers a chance and they duly showed plenty of promise, while John Searby managed to take a couple of wickets.

• The second semi-final in the Scarborough Hospital Cup will take place on Friday (July 11) between last year’s losing finalists, Staxton, and Forge Valley. The match will take place at Flixton with a 6.30pm start.

• The Scarborough Beckett League’s representative side will entertain the Nidderdale League on Sunday (July 13) at North Marine Road, starting at 1.30pm.

 

Promotion-chasing pair both fall to defeats

PROMOTION-CHASING Thornton-le-Dale slipped up in Scarborough Beckett League division ‘B’ after losing by 47 runs at lowly Ganton.

Gareth Hunt took 4-17 and Lee Oliver 4-30 but the hosts still reached 178 before being all out, Ashley Snowball (65) and Stuart Ward (55) impressing.

Dale then limped to 131-9 as Jon Bannister claimed 6-34.

Fylingdales missed the chance to jump into second as they lost at home to Forge Valley II.

Sean Pinder made 55 as Valley ended on 174-9. A few batsmen got going in the reply but none scored more than Barry Heyes’ 41 and they ended 16 runs short.

Scarborough went level on points with Thornton thanks to an eight-wicket win at bottom club Ryedale after bowling the hosts out for 94.

Rob Featherstone made 39 of that 94 but David Snowball took 3-7 and Chris Hunter 3-26 before Kieran Howard (40) led the successful reply.

Ryedale are now 28 points from safety as relegation rivals Bridlington II, like Ganton, took the spoils. Brid beat Cayton by three wickets as Steve Lount (58no) took them to their target of 187-5, in which Ian Dennis top-scored with 59.

Leaders Mulgrave had little trouble in seeing off Staxton II.