Barmby ratchet up the pressure in top-flight title pursuit

10:21am Thursday 28th August 2008

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MAXIMUM points enabled Barmby Moor to trim Drax’s lead at the top of the HPH York Vale Cricket League division one with two games remaining.

Moor’s victory over North Duffield leaves them just four points behind Drax, who were left kicking their heels on Saturday as bottom club York were unable to raise a side for the trip to Church Dyke Lane.

Drax took 27 points as a result of their walkover, while Moor thumped Duffield on another weekend which saw a host of games called off because of waterlogging.

Batsmen generally struggled on damp tracks and wet outfields but David Brent (70) and Andrew Winn (42) put on 69 for the second wicket to help steer Barmby Moor to 182-9. Lee Wild captured 5-65 for Duffield, whose batting failed in an 86-run defeat.

Bishopthorpe recovered from 9-3 to post 117 against Wheldrake thanks to 44 from Ian Holmes, but a parnership of 83 between Anthony Carter (44) and Martin Lambert (31) saw Wheldrake win with seven overs to spare.

Burn teenage bowler Adam Prescott unleashed a teriffic second spell of 6-5 off five overs as Hemingbrough were bowled out for 184. He finished with 6-34 and Burn sped to victory thanks to Martin Travaskiss (66no), Rob Webster (56) and Graham Parker (41).

However, Hemingbrough’s second team wrapped up the division four title with a six-wicket victory over Woodhouse Grange, skipper John Waterhouse leading the way with 55 and 3-17.

University of York Staff regained the leadership of division two while several of their title challengers were frustrated by the weather.

Their game at Fulfordgate was switched to Heslington Lane and the Uni bowlers skittled their neighbours for 66. An easy win looked on the cards until David Baldock took three wickets in four balls and Staff were happy to get home by three wickets.

Hirst Courtney posted the biggest total of the day against Heworth II for only their second league win of the summer. Sam Dunn (58no) and Dean Howsam (48) were the biggest contributors to 219-6.

Adam Mosely (4-11) and Darren Hughes (3-25) reduced Westow to 99 to set up a seven-wicket win for Copmanthorpe at the Retreat.

The closest game came in division three where Drax II pipped Stockton & Hopgrove by two runs. Drax’s John Torn (38) and Richard Ounsley (33) provided the backbone of their side’s 125-9 which featured 4-55 for Rich Grimes.

Stockton looked out of it at 33-5 as teenager Matthew Torn (5-37) ripped out the top order. Steve Fraser (38) and Chris Simpson (24) put on 75 but when they were out within a couple of deliveries of each other, Drax clung on to victory.

Melbourne did well to recover from 9-5 to finish on 113-9 but Rob Murray (49) took Stillingfleet to a comfortable win.

Goole went back to the top of division five with a six-wicket win at Selby, whose Gary Wright struck a defiant 41 in the home side’s 104-8. But Dan Cooper (37) and Chris Sugden (30) put on 77 to ease Goole home.

Spinner Jon Latham turned the screw on Stockton & Hopgrove II as his 4-25 set up York RI’s seven-wicket win and Roger Ferguson’s 5-43 proved decisive as Thorpe Willoughby II defeated Burn II.

Performance of the week

Teenager Adam Prescott’s 6-34 included a devastating second spell to set up Burn’s victory over Hemingbrough in division one.