Londesborough Park & Heworth face survival showdown

Cottingham eased to the Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League Division One East title with a nine-wicket victory at Driffield Town. Six wickets from Jordan Yeomans (6-14) and three from Dominic Rhodes (3-58) at Kings Mill Road saw the home side bowled out for 105. A half-century from Adam Siddall (57) and 35 from Danny Moss secured their side the win and they can look forward to the new challenge of Premier Division cricket next season. 

 

Bridlington knew their promotion was already assured ahead of the visit of Hull Zingari but they showed the visitors little hospitality a five wicket win extinguishing any hope their opponents had of escaping the relegation places on the final day of the season. Former Premier League title winner Russell Robinson produced an excellent all-round performance the first half of which saw him wrap up the visitors’ innings in dramatic fashion as they collapsed from 88-3 to 104 all out, beginning when Robinson dismissed Fergus Wilkinson (30) and he finished with figures of 5-33 from 11 overs. The home side were in trouble at 23-4, three of Muhammad Ayub’s (4-25) coming early in their reply but Robinson came to the rescue with his second half-century of the season against the same opponents this time finishing unbeaten on 61 not out. 

 

Scott Hardwick took 6-19 for Londesborough Park to help set up a seven wicket win over hosts Woodhouse Grange. The home side were bowled out for 139, Ben Burdett top scoring with 38. Skipper James Beevers remained unbeaten on 44 to seal the victory having shared stands of 49 with Tom Jennings (24) and then 57 alongside Charles Rook (37), and he will lead his side back to Sandhill Lane next week where they will take on Heworth in a play-off to determine which side will retain their Division One status. 

 

Ian Buss (7-38) took seven or more wickets in an innings for the third time this season as Patrington bowled out Beverley Town for 96 to win by 126 runs at Southside. Jacob Duffill (80) top scored in the hosts’ total of 222 before becoming one of three wickets for Jacob Hunter (3-32) who also dismissed Sam Fuller for 30. Edward Chappell (3-42) finished with three wickets too, including second top scorer Ashley McKinley for 39. In reply Will Harrison made 32 for the visitors before becoming one of Buss’ match-winning haul. 

 

Hornsea missed out on what would have been only their second victory of the season as they lost by a single wicket at Pocklington. Joe Butterworth top scored with 44 and Harry Collins took 3-31 as the visitors were bowled out for 139, Butterworth (3-16) then took three wickets as did Nick Moulds (3-37) but 40 from Richard Readman helped get his side over the line with the last wicket pair at the crease. 

 

With the title, promotion and automatic relegation issues all already resolved going into the final round of matches in Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League Division One West the only matter outstanding was which team would face a play-off to avoid relegation next week. Clifton Alliance began the day in the hot seat and despite finishing on the wrong end of a draw at home to already relegated Thorp Arch & Boston Spa secured enough points to leap-frog Heworth who lost at Knaresborough and will now take on Londesborough Park at Woodhouse Grange next Saturday. 

 

Guy Whatmore’s 95 was the mainstay of Thorp Arch & Boston Spa’s innings as they reached 240-9 despite four wickets from Lewis Clark (4-31) and three from Joe Kilvington (3-57) for Clifton Alliance. The home sides response looked to be going well with skipper David Taylor (49) and then Jake Atkinson (60) at the crease but wickets from Nitikant Kasana (3-57) and Ben Hutchingson (4-24) towards the end meant 183-4 quickly became 204-9 and it needed a last wicket stand between Kilvington and Jack Heartshorne to see out the remaining few overs. 

 

Heworth’s chances of avoiding the play-off were dented early in the afternoon as they were bowled out for 113 by Knaresborough, Andy Ward the pick of the bowlers finishing with 3-34 from 13 overs. The hosts skipper Greg Pickles top scored for his side with 37 as they lost five wickets in pursuit of the target, Tashmial Henry eventually getting them over the line with an unbeaten 21. 

Champions Easingwold rounded of a successful season beating bottom of the table Osbaldwick at Back Lane by nine wickets. The visitors were bowled out for 114 Zak Wilson taking 4-29 and the result was all but assured thanks to an opening stand of 82 between Stephen Piercy (37) and his captain Tom Wilson (45no). 

 

Harrogate finish the season in third place and rounded of their season with a high scoring draw against Sessay at St George’s Road. The home side’s total of 282-7 included a partnership of 115 for the third wicket between George Owran (52) and Will Topham (83). George Hampson’s 40 came in double quick time and Charlie Stokes made 35 before becoming one of three wickets for Chris Morrison (3-74). Opener Sam Abel made 39 and Ferdinand Rex a run-a-ball 3-67 and despite three wickets each for Charlie (3-51) and Ben (3-71) Stokes the visitors refused to give in typified by a 54-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Stuart Clark (27) and Ben Scaling (29no). 

 

Bolton Percy ended on a high note a seven wicket win over Dringhouses securing back-to-back victories. That might not have looked likely early on as openers Tom Owen (32) and Liam Hancy (60) shared a stand of 67 for the home side, before Richard Lindsay (4-48) swung the game his sides way as 140-2 ended up as 180-9. Tom Malloch (53) and Tom Atkinson (65no) but struck half centuries in the visitors reply and they reached their target with more than 10 overs to spare. 

 

Report by Kevin Hutchinson