All change for York at end of the season

Zoning in the lower divisions will cease to operate at the end of the current season following a 2-1 vote by member clubs at an EGM held recently.

The normal promotion and relegation will take place at the end of the season as planned but clubs will then be allocated into eight divisions as per their final league placings.

PREMIER DIVISION: Clifton Alliance took a major step towards reclaiming the York Senior League title when they defeated Sessay by six wickets.

With second-placed Dunnington having to settle for the worst of a draw at Woodhouse Grange, Clifton go into their final fixture at Beverley with a 14-point lead over Dunnington. Reigning champions Woodhouse are a further nine points adrift and have no realistic chance of taking the title for the third successive year.

Chris Till hit 60 and Chris Cowling 29 as Sessay posted a target of 193-8. Clifton then lost two wickets for 27 but enjoyed a third wicket stand of 90 between Shaun Holmes and John Gilham. Stuart Peirse gained 3-62 but a great knock by Holmes saw him log his first ton in Clifton colours as his unbeaten 107 took Clifton to a six-wicket win in the 45th over.

At Woodhouse Grange, the Bilton brothers Andrew, with 62 and Chris, who made 78, added 109 for the second wicket to lay the foundations for a total of 212-7. Collis King was in fine form with the ball in taking 5-45 and then also showed his ability to hit the ball out of the ground as he cracked seven sixes in a score of 64.

However, Steve Burdett claimed 3-57 and Dunnington fell short of their target at 199-8.

Needing a win to have any hope of avoiding relegation, Acomb found themselves on the wrong end of a run spree as Beverley Town powered to

314-6. Jonathon Fisher was top scorer with 92.

Acomb's batsmen then made a spirited reply with Joey Burton hitting 95 and Andy Green 49 but were never in with a chance of matching their opponents as Simon Roe took 4-41. Whilst gaining a draw at 215-8, Acomb are destined to finish in eleventh place and face relegation.

Batting first against Thirsk, Fenner lost a wicket to the third ball of the game but then revelled in a third-wicket stand of 160 between Dominic Rhodes and Steve Sergeant who both peppered the boundary at frequent intervals. Rhodes hit 15 fours and four sixes in his 124 whilst Sergeant's count, in an unbeaten 116, was 12 fours and three sixes. Sergeant then underlined his all-round ability by bowling eight overs of seam in his first spell and 11 overs of spin in his second to close with figures of 4-35. Thirsk were able to gain a decent draw at 197-6.