Steve Sergeant tormented his former Fenner team-mates as Stamford Bridge maintained second place in the Hunters York & District Senior League premier division with a commanding draw.

Sergeant hit 65 to build on an opening stand of 84 between Dave Chaplin (35) and Matt Beckett (49).

Dave Bradshaw added 39 before the innings ended with a flourish as John Park completed a hat-trick off the final three deliveries to boost his figures to 7-66 in 15 overs, Bridge ending on 246-9.

In reply, only Graham Williamson (41) made a score of note after Sargeant had claimed three early wickets to cut off Fenner’s hopes of chasing down their target. Sargeant returned later to claim an extra victim with his off-spin to close with figures of 4-29 as Fenner reached 133-8.

Elsewhere, Paul Skilbeck, the long-serving Easingwold all-rounder, struck six sixes in an over off Clifton Alliance’s Alex Renton. Skilbeck made a whirlwind 71 in the draw.

Third-placed Sheriff Hutton Bridge lost to second-placed Harrogate in division one.

Bridge’s Paul Oldfield continued his good run by making 54, while Adam Fisher boosted the second half of the innings with an unbeaten 61. Paul Scaling had also chipped in with 28 as the visitors totalled 227-7.

However, Matt Ingham’s 3-88 for Harrogate proved to be the game’s best bowling as Bridge’s bowlers made little impression.

Harrogate’s Ross Sedgeley hit a match-winning 108 not out, his second successive ton, while Andy Hawkswell (55) and Ingham (32no), played their part in a six-wicket win with 11 balls to spare.

The division’s bottom two sides clashed at Shipton Road where Folkton & Flixton’s advantage draw lifted them to 10th and left Clifton Alliance 20 points adrift at the foot.

Early run-scorers for Folkton were Mark Walmsley (44) and Neil Elvidge, with a cameo 26, and the innings was bolstered by a 91-run fifth-wicket partnership between Oliver Stephenson (71) and Rob Lacey (55), whose efforts helped them to 272-7.

Alliance were then held in check by Lee Elvidge (3-70) and Nick Zaczerewski (3-47) but avoided defeat at 202-9.

Pickering emerged as three-wicket winners at Thirsk to leapfrog their hosts in the table.

Mark Cook made 50 and James Wilkinson 47 for Thirsk but Mark Shepherd’s 6-22 had them all out for 151. Stuart Christon responded with 4-62 but 33 by Arthur Devine was just enough to see the Pikes home.

The day’s closest fought draw was at Whitkirk in division two where the home side closed on 174-8 in reply to Malton & Old Malton’s marginally better 175-8. Steve Linsley’s 27 was top score for Malton as Paul Johnson took 4-70. Whitkirk’s chase centred on Mike O’Brien (30no), Ben Danby (27) and Grant Galloway (25) but Tom Summerville’s 4-37 kept Malt marginally ahead.

Smith shines as SHB get first victory

Mike Smith was man of the match when Sheriff Hutton Bridge recorded their first win in Hunters York & District Senior League division five in some style at home to York IV.

York’s batting was blown away for 70 as Smith claimed 6-7 in a 12-over spell which incorporated eight maidens.

York were then beaten by nine wickets in only 16.3 overs. Matt Fisher hit 20 out of the first 24 before top edging to square leg. He was replaced by Smith, who reached 25 not out by hitting the winning run leaving opener Steve Clipston unbeaten with 24.

Rowntrees suffered their sixth defeat when they were hammered by 10 wickets by Stamford Bridge II.

Stef Cockerill’s 40 in a total of 122 was the only success for a Rowntrees player as Des Healey claimed 4-11 in six overs. Stamford took an untroubled path to victory through Martin Woodliffe (43no) and Olly Pimlott (66no).

Sheriff Hutton II lost their unbeaten record and top spot in division seven when they crashed to a heavy defeat to third-placed Bolton Percy.

Bolton’s Jacob Green (115) hit a maiden league century and had fine support from Ed Noble (75) and skipper Mike Furze (64no). In reply, Harry Preston (27), Wayne Fawcett (38) and Ben Corner (26) all got started but were unable to progress further as Pete Atkinson’s 4-39 had the Castlemen all out for 137.

Matt Hunt was Hovingham II’s nemesis as he played a major role in Tadcaster Magnet’s four-wicket win which lifted them to pole position.

Hunt took 6-32 as Hovingham, for whom Alistair Thorpe made 69, were dismissed for 159. He then hit 56 not out to help steer Taddy to victory at 160-6.

The experienced Pete Edmondson had one of his best bowling returns when he claimed 7-33 at Stillington as Rowntrees II recorded their first win of the season.

Adrian Leckenby made 55 and Oliver Everard 35 as Stillington were bowled out for 158 in 40 overs.

The surplus overs proved of high value as Rowntrees took 50 to reach their target for the loss of six wickets.

Pikes II ease to big win over Bub

Seasoned campaigners Brian Last (48) and Neil Readman (34) were the only two batsmen to feature in Bubwith’s 129 at Pickering II in Hunters York & District Senior League division four.

Home bowlers Tim Hodgson (3-29) and Sri Lankan S Thiagarajan (3-5) did the damage.

After the loss of an early wicket, the Pikes eased to a nine-wicket win via Matt Allison (56no) and Ryan Boyes (38no).

Stillington fielded only 10 men at Hull Zingari and lost by 98 runs. Martin Russell (67) and James Micklethwaite (64no) saw Zingari to 213-5. Tim Wells took 3-48 but his efforts were gazumped by Roger Burnham, who recorded the day’s best bowling figures of 8-32 as Stillington were all out for 115, Carl Simpson (67) and Wayne Linton (34) scoring all but 14 runs of that total.

Another ton for match-winner Brian

DuncomBe Park’s Brian Leckenby hit his third century in seven games as he finished off his side’s Hunters York & District League division three home fixture with Hull in style.

Hull’s Ben Watkins made 67 and Will Parker 57 before they were all out for 223 in the final over, Alistair Holmes taking 5-43 and Colin Humpleby 4-58.

Park’s reply featured a third-wicket stand of 123 in which Paul Wilkie’s share was 33, while Peter Kent added a valuable 30.

The target became 18 off the last three overs, but Leckenby required a mere four balls as he blasted three sixes to gain a five-wicket win and hoist his personal score to 138 not out, his 26th league century.

A career best 5-31 by Brett Crowe was not enough for Malton & Old Malton II to avoid defeat to third-placed Thorp Arch.

Thorp were dismissed for 140 by Crowe and Simon Cass (3-44). But, while Cass followed with 26, he had little support as Guy Whatmore took 5-36 to bowl the hosts out for 110.

Paul Deverell had a splendid match for Hovingham as he claimed 5-46 and then hit 80 – but he too found himself on the losing side.

Kev Barker (60) and Chris Smith (64) countered Deverell’s bowling and saw New Earswick to 218-9. In reply, Deverell had support from James Shelton (36) and Tom Lund (26) but decisive bowling from Paul Stimpson (4-43) and Ian Helmsley (3-37) had them all out for 178.

Greg Fewster (72) and Steve Scammells (53no) set up an advantage draw for Welton & Brough at home to Sheriff Hutton.

The hosts reached 206-6 despite 3-44 by Joel Welford. Sheriff seemed destined for defeat before the father and son pairing of Geoff (63no) and Joe Schofield (47no) helped them to draw at 165-7.