Loftus maintained their healthy lead at the top of division one defeating The Merlin by no fewer than 117 runs.

When they batted first Loftus posted 201 for six before declaring as the runs flowed by Barrick with 88 and Pearson who carried his bat for 54. Moss was the most successful bowler in The Merlin attack claiming three wickets for 60 runs and Tweedy took two wickets for 61 runs.

When they went into bat The Merlin were all out for just 84 and most of their runs came from Pacitto with 32. The batsmen though were generally well contained by the twin attack of Morrison and Barritt. The former claimed four wickets for just 12 runs and Barritt ended with equally impressive figures of four for 17.

Hinderwell are second and they defeated Ormesby Hall by five wickets. Faced with a target of 150 they had four players making 20 runs or more. Lyth, who opened the batting, began with 26 and Sivills added 27 before Powell carried his bat for 23 and Swain remained unbeaten on 25 as the pair put together an unbroken partnership for the sixth wicket. Wilkinson claimed two of the five wickets to fall for 46 runs and McCabe had two for 47.

When they batted first McCabe was also in good form with the bat for Ormesby Hall. After early wickets had fallen, he took control and was still there at the end undefeated on 68 out of a total of 149 all out. Swain captured half the wickets for 44 runs and Powell returned figures of three for 31.

There was a close result when Dormans entertained Staithes. Batting first Dormans reached 185 for six with good contributions of 63 from Patton, 31 from Iqbal and 34 by Noor while for Staithes A Theaker picked up four of the six wickets to go down for just 34 runs.

In their reply Staithes finished with 175 for seven, just 11 runs short of a winning margin and the game was declared a draw.

After losing the wickets of their two openers for a combined total of only seven runs, Staithes recovered through Ward who went in at number three. He was just two runs short of a century when he was stumped by Iqbal off the bowling of Noor and although Horne added 24, Staithes were short by 11 runs while Dormans required another three wickets when stumps were drawn. Noor, with three wickets for 69 runs and Hatfield with two for 45, claimed most of the wickets in the Dormans attack.

Norton produced a healty total of 213 for four and then bowled out Normanby Parklands for 135. Watson was the hero in the Norton innings ending with 104 before being caught and bowled by Reader while Tait contributed a useful 41 and Pritchard 35. Reader was the most successful bowler for Parklands ending with two for 37.

When the visitors replied they were in early trouble and never really recovered despite Reader scoring 26, Smith 21 and Reid an unbeaten 25. The innings closed on 135 as Tempest ended with three for 13, Parker three for 33 and Tait two for eight.

Paragonians were another side to find run making easy when they entertained Brotton. They romped to 243 for seven before applying the declaration as the runs flowed from Ross with 49, Melrose (40), Rhoden (42) and Patterson who made a top scoring 63. Three of the seven wickets to fall were taken by Bullick for 40 runs, Whitwell returned two for 48 and Broughton had an analysis of two for 54.

In reply Brotton made a reasonable start through opener Ridley (25) and Hanczik (34) who put together a useful partnership for the second wicket. Later Garbutt contributed 22 but not even the assistance of 35 extras could take Brotton near the target and the innings ended on 144 all out. Black claimed three wickets for 26 runs, Melrose had two for 17 and Skilbeck two for 18.

In division two the game between Loftus and Moorsholm was postponed and will be played at a later date, but Boosbeck failed to extend their lead at the top over the pair when they went down by 62 runs to New Marske.

Batting first New Marske ended with 178 for seven on the board with 24 from Porritt, 27 by Yarker and a top scoring 34 from J Alderson. Towards the end G Alderson carried his bat for 25 and for Boosbeck, Passmore took three wickets for 42 runs, Ward two for 34 and Lorgins two for 44.

When they went into bat Boosbeck were indebted to opener Ward who batted throughout and was still there at the end undefeated on 63 out of a total of 116 all out. Extras, on 23, was the next highest contributor to the total as New Marske finished 62 runs ahead. G Alderson returned four for 38, Porritt had two for 30 and J Alderson was also involved in the wicket taking ending with analysis of two for 18.

Cowpen Bewley were all out for just 77 entertaining Ormesby Hall who went on to win by five wickets. In a game where runs were at a premium Cowpen Bewley were indebted to Magin for his 22 but when Roberts took six wickets for 29 runs and Pelling four for 38, Cowpen Bewley collapsed to a low score.

Ormesby Hall though also found run making problematic and they conceded five wickets before securing the necessary 78 runs. Mathewman opened the batting with 24 and after five wickets had fallen Ormesby Hall were indebted to Gafoor Junior and Poole, who between them contributed 29 in an unbroken partnership for the sixth wicket. Carr caused the visitors most of their problems and he captured three wickets for just 23 runs while P Barlow gave admirable support with two wickets for 12 runs.

Normanby Parklands were another side who struggled for runs and they were all out for 79 at home to Dormanstown. The highest score in the home side's innings came from Griffiths who went in at number ten and scored 22, but the batsmen found it difficult, particularly against Mitchell, whose four hits cost him just 26 runs. Hatch claimed two for 21 and Lloyd two for 28 before Dormanstown replied with 90 for one including an unbeaten 38 from Johnson and 34 not out by Lloyd