Staxton’s lead at the top of the Readers Scarborough & District League premier division was cut to three points after they scrambled a 16-run win against hosts Forge Valley.

The visitors were bowled out for 133 in 38.3 overs, slipping from 62-2 after 17 due to a career best 8-19 from Valley’s Andy Holden, his 10th five-wicket haul in the premier division.

James Armstrong scored 32 and Linden Gray 26.

Replying, Valley struggled against the visitors’ spin attack, Chris Brown claiming 5-42 from 21 overs and Richard Flinton 3-33, to be all out for 117 in 41.4 overs.

Ebberston stayed second despite a poor start against champions Staithes, who slipped to fourth.

Staithes had Ebberston on 19-3 until Tom Brough’s 54 and Pete Webster’s 34 took them to 180-9 at tea. Then, barring Steve Thornton’s 61 and Ryan Gibson’s 33, the visitors had little to offer against Col Palmer (3-39) and Tom Bumby (3-19) to be bowled out for 139.

Heslerton kept their title hopes alive and pushed Kirkbymoorside into the relegation dogfight after a six-wicket win.

Kirkby struggled for runs against accurate bowling, reaching 42-1 after 20 overs. Two more wickets fell on 52, Phil Charlton for 14 and Martin Charlton well caught by Tom Benthall for 20. Dave Gardner threatened with six fours and two sixes but, when he was caught in the deep by Jake Keyworth off Simon Oxendale, the innings petered out for 144 after 43.3 overs, Adam Spaven claiming 3-46 and Kristian Wilkinson 4-54.

The hosts started their reply well, as Alex Carrie (41) and Tony Watson (51) put on 91 in 23 overs before Carrie was bowled by John Clarke. Matt Baillie added 28 to help Heslerton to victory in the 37th over. Howard Mudd (2-27) was the visitors’ most successful bowler.

Heslerton still require a result against Ebberston this weekend to figure in the championship frame.

Ricky Nock 26, Paul Virr 28 and James Long 33 helped Cloughton to 152 at Seamer. Joe Danby then followed his 4-28 with 69 and as Seamer won by five wickets.

Cayton continue to flirt with relegation after losing at home to Filey.

Craig Sherwin hit a defiant unbeaten 84 and, with Paul Woodhead (36), took Cayton on 161-9, Paul Bowes creating all the problems with 5-14 from 16 overs, 11 of which were maidens.

Replying, Phil Dickens hit 70 to guide the visitors to victory for the loss of seven wickets, Richard Webster picking up 3-62.

Runaway Division ‘A’ leaders Flixton 2nds are now in range of the chasing pack after two rained-off matches were followed by back-to-back defeats – the latest a shock loss to lowly Bridlington 2nds.

Andy Wardell (63) and Geoff Hill (32) provided the backbone of Flixton’s 191-9 against Brid, for whom Tom McMeeken claimed 4-50.

Brid’s reply was soon in bother on 56-5 until Peter Bowtell (27), Greg Miller (46) and a 70-run eighth-wicket partnership between Simon Brooke (64no) and Adam Ykhlef (8) gained victory with their last pair at the crease. Mark Shackley took 3-46.

Flamborough move back to second after bowling out Brompton for 98, Mark Davies claiming 6-39, en route to an eight-wicket win.

Paul Hesp (4-36) and Adam Waugh (3-28) bowled Wykeham out for 124 but their Scalby team capitulated for 66 as pace duo Dave Pearson (6-41) and Gareth Barnard (4-21) dominated.

Only 14 points cover the bottom six.

Settrington slipped to second-bottom after losing at the then bottom club Wold Newton. Setty were restricted to 123, Martin Jackson scoring 23 as Richard Riley claimed 4-32. Replying, Simon Gray (37no), Charlie Gray (30) and Richard Riley (33) took Newton to victory by six wickets.


Snainton top trio

Promotion from Readers Scarbor-ough Beckett League division ‘B’ is virtually a three-horse race with Snainton now firm favourites for the title thanks to a 27-point lead over second-placed Sherburn with Ryedale creeping up on the rails four points further back.

Snainton put hosts Thornton-le-Dale into bat and the decision suited Paul Kinghorn, whose 18-over spell reaped 5-14 as Dale were all out for 91, Rob Anderson top-scoring with 25.

Jason Oakley creamed an unbeaten 60 to gain victory for the leaders by eight wickets.

Sherburn were made to work for their victory at home to Hunmanby.

Alan Lickes claimed 4-58 and Stu Pickard 3-20 in Hunmanby’s 130. Craig Sanderson then hit 38 but it was seventh-wicket pair Stu Pickard (35) and Kev Metcalfe (25no) who salvaged victory with a 58-run partnership, Nick Ringrose having claimed 5-61.

Phil Chambers hit an unbeaten 77 to guide Cloughton 2nds to 151-7 at home against Ryedale, but it was to no avail as Nick Ibbotson replied with an unbeaten 69 to help win the match for the visitors by five wickets, despite Liam Salt’s 5-84.

A majestic 73 from Staxton 2nds stalwart Andy Witty took his team to 205-7 on a flat home track, Tom Nicholson and Nigel Hargreaves chipping in with 27 apiece – but it did not prevent defeat to Forge Valley 2nds.

After tea, Joe Bradshaw smashed 12 fours in his unbeaten 95 and, with John Flinton (24no), put on 76 as Valley won by five wickets.

Lockton batted out all 45 overs for 146-9, Guy Nattrass (29) and Neil Eddon (45) their principal scorers, at home against Cayton 2nds, for whom Simon Glave claimed 5-40.

Replying, Brian Heywood (41) and Jamie Cox (38) helped to knock off the runs for the loss of six wickets, Mike Brown picking up 3-45.

Ebberston 2nds need a near miracle to avoid relegation to the Derwent Valley League as they now lie 38 points adrift at the foot of division ‘C’.

They failed to pick up a point at Fylingdales as Mark Estill (7-33) and Barry Heyes (3-56) had them all out for 95.

Fylingdales reached their target for the loss of one wicket with Peter Hincliffe remaining unbeaten on 64.

Alastair Limb hit an unbeaten 106 as Ganton beat Scarborough by 69 runs.

Scalby 2nds’ Dan Gregory (55) was the only player to master the conditions at Wykeham.

He took his team to 125 against Wykeham 2nds, Dan Bateson claiming 3-44, before the hosts were all out for 53, Adrian Hollingsworth taking 5-13 and Tony Geall 3-12.