But it was Castleford, with Yorkshire left arm spinner David Wain-wright showing top form, who took the honours to move within six points of York at the top.

Wainwright had most of the Driffield batsmen guessing as he spun his way to figures of 4-42, and only the consistent Joe Fraser got past thirty, top scoring with 32. Steve Patterson again showed useful form with the bat in making 28, and Mark Tennant made 26, but the visitors succumbed in the final over of the innings for a less than adequate 152.

Despite Richard Pyrah’s 3-38 it was never going to be enough and with Wainwright striking an impressive unbeaten 62 Castleford lost only four wickets in passing the Driffield total to close to within six points of leaders York.

The Woldsmen enjoyed mixed success in the York Senior League, with a victory and a defeat, the loss coming in the Division One game against York II who hit the day’s highest score in making 253-6.

Three York batsmen passed the fifty mark with Ben Hough and Mike Mortimer both making 60 and Andy Kay top-scoring with 75.

Driffield’s reply was hampered by the fact that one of their number was unable to bat, and though Russ Robinson made 51 they were bowled out by K Ahmed’s 5-54, and were all out for 156, defeat by 97 runs.

Victory for the thirds has put them in a strong position to clinch promotion from Division 5a in their first season in the York League. Rob Woodcock led the way with 5-20 and John Driskell claimed 3-24 as third placed Yapham were rushed out for only 95. And then Neil Woodcock took over with the bat, smashing an unbeaten 55 as Driffield marched to a nine wickets victory in only 23 overs.

The fourths were similarly impressive in Division One of the East Yorkshire Alliance, their bowlers rolling over Sutton-in-Hull for just 42 runs in 25 overs, a total which they easily surpassed for the loss of just one wicket. Driffield remain comfortably top of the division with promotion beginning to look assured.

Runs were a rare commodity in the game between Driffield 5ths and Dalton Holme in the East Riding Independ-ant League as both team’s bowlers had the upper hand. Dalton Holme batted first, finishing with 74 for 9 off their 40 overs, A Cage (20), J Woodmansey (12), P Williamson (11) and D Williamson (10) all put up stubborn resistance to the Driffield bowling attack of Tom Chippendale 1-12, Oliver Burdass 3-26, Owen Milner 3-21, Dan Kitch-ing 1-8 and Mat Hopper 1-3.

But Driffield in turn also found batting difficult A Hopper (21) and a quickfire 15 from Nathen Cartwright gave Driff-ield hope as wickets tumbled, but at 48 for 8 and Driffield only having 10 men Dalton Holme’s opening bowlers M Gamble 4 for 37 and J Kaye 4 for 33 seemed to have won the game until an unlikely 29 run last wicket partnership between Owen Milner (12) not out and Matty Hopper (13) not out saw Driffield home.