SHERIFF Hutton Bridge's title hopes were all but dashed as they lost to leaders Woodhouse Grange in their vital match-up.

Both sides went into Saturday's game unbeaten but it was SHB who needed the win more to claw back the sizeable gap to the summit

Invited to bat first, the Bridge lost two wickets for just seven runs. Rob Pinder then rescued the innings with some fine hitting, scoring all but four runs out of his 50 in boundaries. He eventually fell for 65 and the innings then became becalmed as Steve Burdett took 3-47, the eventual total being 155-9.

Woodhouse then slipped to 20-2 as Nick Hadfield and Chris Bilton fell cheaply. The response was twice interrupted by rain but Andy Bilton struck an impressive 83 not out and Matt Hattee made an unbeaten half century as an unbroken stand of 137 took Woodhouse to an eight-wicket win.

Easingwold moved back into second place on Saturday when they disposed of lowly Sewerby with ease.

Mal Artley made 25 for the Clifftoppers but his side could only total 97 as Steve Piercy grabbed 5-21 and Rich Lindsey 4-27. Piercy then made 51 in an eight-wicket triumph.

At Stamford Bridge, the home side had reached 160-4 against Hull Zingari when the game was called off due to rain.

Dominic Rhodes was the star with an unbeaten 93 while Matt Beckett made 28 and Kev Murphy 25 before the weather halted the proceedings.

Sheriff Hutton Bridge bounced back to winning ways on Monday with a seven-wicket victory at a windy Sewerby.

Sam Tennant hit 40 as Sewerby made a good start before a good spell by Jordan Grose (3-37) swung the game the visitors' way. Rick Robinson made a valuable late-order unbeaten 42 before Mark Fisher (3-46) and two run-outs ended the innings on 176 in the final over.

SHB opener Paul Oldfield (56) gave the reply a solid start as he and Ed Barnes (33) posted a good opening partnership. The good work was continued by Adam Fisher (33) and Pinder (33no) to clinch victory.

Rhodes had another superb game for Stamford Bridge on Monday when he firstly hit a century and then captured 4-54 as his side gained the better of a draw with Easingwold in a close, high-scoring encounter.

Rhodes' 138 was his season’s best total and he was well supported by Kev Murphy (30) and Phil Hill (26) to enable Stamford to declare on 236-9.

Easingwold’s spirited reply included half-centuries from Martin Piercy (53), Kyle Waite (58) and Mark Haines (59) but Rhodes pegged them to 214-7. The result allowed Sheriff Hutton Bridge to return to runners-up berth.