Acomb and Dunnington share top billing

Acomb and Dunnington stand shoulder to shoulder at the top of the table after rain again disrupted the Hunters ECB Yorkshire Premier League North for the second week in a row. 

 

Acomb maintained their winning start with a two-wicket victory over previously unbeaten Stamford Bridge. Conditions proved a real challenge for all the batters at The Green where half of the 18 wickets to fall were caught behind. Acomb ‘keeper Joe Schofield finished with a league record equalling five catches and opposite number Jack Timby took four. The visitors were bowled out for 82, their lowest total since making 74 against Hull in 2016. Chris Aplin took 3-44 and Darius D’Silva 3-17 with opener Jack Timby the only player on either side to reach 30. The hosts made a positive start before Fletcher Coutts (5-39) took his second five wicket haul of 2021, all of them this time falling in the space of 21 chaotic deliveries reducing Acomb to 34-5. Darcy O’Connor steadied things with 27 but after William Robertson (3-24) removed him it took a nervy ninth wicket partnership of 15 to get the hosts to their target. 

 

Meanwhile at Common Lane Dunnington recorded their first ever victory in the competition over Yorkshire Academy. George Drury took the first three wickets to fall and would finish with figures of 5-27 as the visitors were bowled out for 147, skipper Dave Brent (34) also picking up three. Brent’s opposite number Will Luxton played a standout role with the bat making 71 but unfortunately for away side Benjamin Cliff with 28 not out was the only other batter to reach double figures. Cliff then proved his worth with the ball the first of his four wickets helping reduce the home side to 10-2, George Drury dug in making 39 and Jack Bolam finished unbeaten on 35 the former skipper sharing a match-winning unbroken seventh wicket stand of 51 with Daniel Barrett (19no). 

 

Sheriff Hutton Bridge remain rooted to the foot of the table after they were beaten by Woodhouse Grange. The defending champions had not won in four previous visits to Sandhill Lane and that run was extended to five as they were bowled out for 163 chasing ‘Grange’s 210-8. Chris Bilton (63) and Henry Wilson (57) put on 119 for the fourth wicket after the hosts had lost their first three for just 18, both were dismissed by Mark Fisher although Freddie Collins returned the best figures taking 3-57. A stand worth 67 between Fisher (29) and Tommy Hudson (33) looked to have given ‘Bridge the platform for their first win of the season but Josh Jackson turned the game in favour of the home side with four wickets including the three top scorers among them Freddie Collins (27) who was last to be dismissed with his side still 47 runs short. 

 

The local derby at Clifton Park between York, the home side on this occasion, and Clifton Alliance ended in stalemate persistent rain preventing either side from claiming their first win of the season. A half-century from Finlay Bean (53) was the highlight for the hosts who scored 192-8 from their 40 overs in a game reduced in duration from the start, Scott Hopkinson (4-55) finishing as the pick of the bowlers with four wickets. The visitors reply lasted just three overs before the weather closed in and the sides were forced to settle for a share of the points. 

 

It was a similar story at Savile Park where the match was abandoned at the halfway stage, visitors Driffield Town having reached 195-5 from their 50 overs. Teenager Noah Kelly made a YPLN personal best of 84 before becoming one of three wickets for Chesney Hughes who finished with 3-53 from 13 overs, and a waterlogged outfield at St George’s Road meant no play was possible at all between Harrogate and Scarborough. 

 

Report by Kevin Hutchinson