GREAT Habton were able to narrow the gap slightly on leaders Flamborough in the race for the Derwent Valley League title – but probably not in the way they would have wanted.

Flamborough picked up 16 points for their seven-wicket win over Whitby 3rds, but Habton claimed the full 20 courtesy of relegated Sewerby 3rds being unable to raise a side. It means the gap is now seven points with two games remaining.

It was the second time Sewerby had not got a side out this term and, in addition to the usual £20 fine, they were charged £20 for not giving the home team 24 hours’ notice.

At Flamborough, Josh Suckling made a fine 68 for Whitby 3rds but they were bowled out for 112 by William Thraves (5-26) and Harry Burton (4-17). Luke Dixon hit an unbeaten 65 in the successful reply.

At the other end of the table, Hospitals/Rugby Club beat Forge Valley 3rds by four wickets to climb out of the drop zone, leapfrogging both their hosts and Whitby 3rds.

Graham Jackson was left unbeaten on 43 when Valley were bowled out for 110. Scott Jackson took 4-46 in the reply but Ian Williams (37) helped Hospitals reach a winning 114-5.

Lockton stayed third thanks to a four-wicket win over Muston.

Simon Oxendale (65) and Simon Boyes (33) were in decent nick with the bat as Lockton reached their victory target. David Meer had struck 70 in Muston’s 153 all out but Oxendale (3-31) had also done well with the ball in a supporting role to John Ley (5-29).

Flixton 3rds took advantage of promotion rivals Wold Newton 2nds and Nawton Grange’s weekend off by trouncing Kirkbymoorside 2nds to stretch their lead at the top of division ‘B’.

Kirkby went into the game with title hopes of their own but lost ground after being shot out for 81, Michael Thompson (42) having scored more than half their runs.

Pete Hill took 4-26 and then Stephen Hill (48no) led the victorious reply as he and fellow opener John Sowden (25no) powered Flixton to a 10-wicket win.

Flixton have only one game left and can still be caught by both Wold Newton, who have a game in hand, and the Moorsiders, who have two games in hand.

Saturday’s other match in the second tier saw Sherburn 2nds drop into the bottom two after defeat by Filey 2nds.

Visitors Filey were all out for 141 all out, Lewis Adams contributing a vital 55 as Andy White (3-48) took the most wickets. But the hosts fell 16 runs short, dismissed for 125 largely by Lewis Adams (3-28) and Tom Watson (3-34). Matthew Lickes’ 46 was in vain.

Cayton 3rds are now odds on for the division ‘C’ crown as they thrashed Valley Bar Nomads by eight wickets to move 25 points clear at the summit with three games left.

Danny Wilson took 4-19 as Nomads ended on a paltry 75-9 before Shaun Rennison (43) led the winning reply.

Second-placed Muston 2nds had no game, allowing Scalby 3rds, the only other team who can topple Cayton, to close the gap thanks to a nine-wicket win over lowly Forge Valley 4ths – Jack Boddy (71no) and Daryll Morley (5-33) the stand-out performers.

Robbie Milner scored 41 and Jake Sarup 35 as bottom team Ganton 2nds totalled a decent 161-9 but John Nelson followed his 5-34 with 60 in the reply as Luke Stokoe made 79 in Ravenscar’s winning 162-3.

Wykeham 3rds leapfrogged Thornton Dale 2nds thanks to a tight one-wicket win.

Pete Hill made 52 and Luke Dixon 32 as Dale were all out for 142, Chris Briggs claiming 4-9. In reply, Ian Thompson (47) and Willie Wood (25) made crucial runs as Wykeham reached the target with their last pair at the crease, Tom Snowden (3-36) and William Taylor (3-35) having been among the wickets.