Win boost Driffield's survival hopes

It was another rain and covid affected day in Hunters ECB Yorkshire Premier League North, with only one of the five scheduled games reaching a conclusion. 

 

The captains of Driffield Town and Clifton Alliance agreed to a shortened game at Kings Mill Road, and their decision paid off with the sides able to complete a 20-over a side contest before any rain arrived. Sam Drury scored 67 off only 41 balls sharing a stand of 96 with Noah Kelly (51) for the second wicket. Kelly reached his half-century as the home side pressed on reaching 151-4. Opener Scott Hopkinson scored a run-a-ball 30 at the start of the visitors reply and despite an unbeaten half-century from Andrew Whaits (50no) they could only reach 129-6 in reply, James Anson (3-36) finishing with three wickets. 

 

Scarborough made one of the longest trips of the season to take on league leaders Castleford, but both sides were left frustrated with just 14.1 overs play possible at Savile Park. Guy Emmett took the only wicket to fall as the home side reached 41-1, Chesney Hughes finished unbeaten on 16 as his side look to close in on a first topflight title since 1962. 

 

Woodhouse Grange faced local rivals Stamford Bridge at Sandhill Lane, Harry Gamble (36) and Christopher Bilton (64) putting on a partnership of 69 for the hosts before Jersey T20i International leg-break bowler Dominic Blampied set to work taking 5-46 from ten overs the home side who had been 110-1 finished on 185-9 from a reduced total of 42 overs. The visitors made a positive start Martyn Woodliffe and skipper Benjamin Pearson (30) putting on 56 before the first of two quick wickets and then the rain arrived with the score on 60-2. The result leaves Stamford Bridge just above bottom placed Driffield Town who occupy the only relegation place. The sides are due to meet on the final day of the season. 

 

York’s Duncan Snell (112) continued his run of scoring a century in each season of the competition, a tenth three figure score in five years of the YPLN coming against Dunnington at Clifton Park, he added 160 for the second wicket alongside skipper Ryan McKendry who made 74. The home side scored 275-5 which included two wickets each for George Drury (2-48) and skipper Dave Brent (2-38), but the rain arrived before the visitors were able to begin their innings. 

 

The game between Harrogate and Acomb was the latest to be cancelled due to covid and the league table will have a slightly different look following the decision by Yorkshire Academy that they are not able to commit to their remaining fixtures and as a result all the points from their previous games have been expunged, and only one team will now be relegated. 

 

Report by Kevin Hutchinson