FOLKTON & Flixton made it two wins out of two to claim leadership of the Hunters York and District Senior League.

Their six-wicket victory over Studley Royal came courtesy of Richard Malthouse’s 87 and a half-century from Tom Norman (52).

Set a target of 202 to win, the pair shared a second-wicket stand of 104 after which the result was never in doubt.

Harry Walmsley (5-40) had earlier picked up five wickets as the hosts subsided from 153-2 to 201-9 after James Clarkson (71) and Andrew Fleming (48) had provided a strong base.

Having been relegated at the end of last season, Driffield Town will be hoping for an immediate return to the Premier League and a strong display against Senior League runners-up York should provide an early boost.

Their victory at Clifton Park came despite the heroics of Tom Spearman.

The York all-rounder scored a half-century and took four wickets but finished on the losing side as Alec Drury (50) and Tom Appleyard (46no) played leading roles as the visitors chased down 210 with four wickets in hand.

Jordan Caley had earlier taken 4-26 in the home side's innings which included 49 from skipper Nick Kay.

There was also success for the other of last year’s relegated sides as Acomb bowled out Whitkirk for 88 at The Green with three wickets each for James Tindall (3-21) and Darcy O’Connor (3-17). Sam Parkin top scored for the visitors with 34.

Opener William Wade hit an unbeaten 43 for the home side as they recorded their first win of the season with nine wickets still intact.

A blistering partnership of 111 in just 15 overs between Olly Grantham (48) and Tony Spence (85) helped give Beverley Town an unassailable total of 262-5 at home to Pickering. Rob Fish (35) and Connor Bowden (51) also made useful contributions.

The visitors' fight-back was led by a half-century from Dave Greenlay (66) and, despite three wickets from Brad Graham (3-34), they held on for a share of the points, reaching 194-6 by the close with Kieran Bowes unbeaten on 33.

Easingwold picked up their first win of the season, beating Hull Zingari at Back Lane by eight wickets.

Jack Story (32) and Laurence Wilkinson (34) were the only batsmen to reach double figures. Wilkinson’s efforts to hold the innings together ended in failure as the visitors were bowled out for 131, Zac Wilson the pick of the bowlers with 3-30.

Easingwold skipper Stephen Piercy scored a better than a run a ball 62 to set his side on the way and James Postill rounded off the innings with an unbeaten 41.

Only 18 overs were possible in the game between Malton & Old Malton and Sheriff Hutton Bridge in which time the visitors reached 57-1 with Harry Sutcliffe unbeaten on 34 when rain brought an early conclusion.

The home side also lost out to the weather last Monday in a re-arranged game against York.