Beverley’s Trip To Scarborough is Rained Off

The Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League Premier Division title race looks set to go down to the final round of matches after rain denied Sheriff Hutton Bridge the chance to clinch the title, and four out of the seven matches saw no play at all.

Only Acomb who have a game in hand can catch the leaders but they will need to win both their remaining matches to have a realistic chance of lifting the crown.

The penultimate round of fixtures paired the two together and home side Acomb were in trouble on 99-7 chasing 165-9 when the match was abandoned. Adam Fisher (31) and Alexander Ibbotson (28) were made to work hard for their runs in testing conditions as hosts’ captain Andy Tute took 4-32.

The skipper then led from the front scoring 27 of his sides total before rain brought a halt to proceedings 18 overs into the home sides reply. Acomb take on Heworth in a re-arranged match on Sunday then visit Stamford Bridge on the final day whilst Sheriff Hutton Bridge travel to Clifton Alliance next Saturday knowing 17 points will secure them the title.

Clifton Alliance hosted Heworth in the only match to reach a positive conclusion, the home side dodging the showers to win by seven wickets. The visitors recovered from 76-5 thanks to an unbeaten half-century from Guy Wilkinson (56no). Partnerships of 44 with William Peet (29) and 58 with Freddie Coughlin (15no) allowed them to set up a match by declaring on 178-6. Joe Ashdown added a further 65 to his record breaking tally for the season, he and John Gilham (45) combining to add 105 for the second wicket and record a comfortable win.

Scarborough had reached 208-6 at home to Beverley Town Cricket Club before rain brought an end to proceedings leaving Mark Tennant unbeaten on 58, early in the day James Pick had also weighed in with 50 and Darren Harland 38 but their efforts proved to no avail.

Champions Woodhouse Grange’s chances of retaining the title were washed away as their match against Studley Royal was abandoned without a ball being bowled, but a similar story between Stamford Bridge and York was enough to secure the home side the final place in the top six and Premier League cricket next season.