Loftus still command a sizable lead in division one and they won for the tenth time in 11 outings defeating Normanby Parklands by nine wickets.

Although Mead opened the Parklands innings scoring 30 and Scrafton added 20 the innings only produced a total of 108 as Whitwell took four for 44 and Barritt four for 25.

The target was within easy reach of the Loftus batsmen. When Pearson, who opened the innings, was still there at the end, undefeated on 30 and the only wicket to fall was that of Dixon for 22. Barritt joined Pearson in an unbroken partnership for the second wicket contributing an undefeated 41.

Dormans are second and they had 34 runs in hand of Brotton. Dormans lost wicket cheaply early in the innings before Holland (20) Bouton (22) and Barratt with 23 not out raised the total to 132 all out. Yeoman was in splendid form with the ball for Brotton and his six wickets cost him just 30 runs while Broughton gave support with three for 43.

When Brotton replied, opening batsman Ridley contributed 26 and Garbutt 25 before Whitwell scored a late 27 but despite the efforts of the trio, a total of only 98 was achieved. Hatfield claimed six wickets for 39 runs and Noor three for 14 for Dormans.

Ormsby Hall overtook the Staithes total of 165 for nine with five of their wickets remaining. Wilkinson gave the innings a good send off scoring 40 and Brown carried his bat for 48 while for Staithes, Thornton was the most productive bowler with two for 58.

When they went in first, Staithes conceded the wickets of their first two batsmen for a combined total of just five runs. Theaker, who went in at number three, steadied the innings at 28 and there were also useful contributions of 20 by Ward, 28 from Marsey and an unbeaten 34 from Major. McCabe returned three for 58 and Peacock two for 24 in the Ormesby Hall attack.

After dismissing The Merlin for just 83, Paragonians went onto win by nine wickets. Skilbeck took six of the wickets for just 31 runs and Grainge had two for 20 for Paragonians while in The Merlin innings Pacitto top scored with 34. In reply, Paragonians had not difficulty reaching the winning margin and after Davis departed that scoring 14, Briscoe with an undefeated 44 partnered opening batsman Melrose who carried his bat for 17.

Hindwell managed only 62 but still defeated Norton by one run following an exciting finale. In a game dominated by bowlers, Norton's Skirving took five wicket for 30 runs in 13.1 overs, six of which were Maidens and Brooks had five for 26 from his 14 over spell. He sent down five maidens and Hindwell innings lasted just 27.1 overs.

Replying, however, Norton were back in the pavilion after 33 overs with just 61 runs on the board. Gary Sivills claimed six wickets for 20 runs in nine overs and Mark Swain had figures of four for 18 from the 16 overs he delivered including four maidens.

Boosbeck are still ahead in division two and they inflicted a six wickets defeat on Skelton Castle. Elliott gave the home innings a good send off scoring 42, Mitchell added 23 and Tweedy 20 before Hogarth added a valuable 30 which enabled the respectable total of 151 all out to be realised. Ward, introduced as second changed entered the Boosbeck attack captured five wickets for 30 runs and Lorraines claimed three for 39.

When they went in to bat Boosbeck won losing just four of their wickets. Ward followed up his good performance with the ball top scoring with 33 and his opening partner Passmore made 27. Lorraines added 29 and Drews finished unbeaten on 25. Tweedy claimed two of the four wickets to go down for 20 runs.

Loftus are second and they had 82 runs to spare at home to Normanby Parklands. Faced with a target of 178, Parklands were all out for just 95 and the total would have been a great deal less but for late contribution by Plunkett and Reed, who contributed 34 runs between them. Carr was in good form with the ball for Loftus taking four wickets for just 14 runs while the other five bowlers used in the attack, Pearson, Kentfield, Bulmer, Burrill and Shaw all took one wicket.

When they batted first, Loftus made a reasonable start through Bowman and Pearson 20 but it was the unbroken seventh wicket partnership between Shaw (59 not out) and Lochran with an undefeated 51 which propelled the total to 177 for six. McGough took three wickets for 56 runs and Rogers two for 21 for Parklands.

After realising 141 all out in 45 overs, Cowpen Bewley went down by eight wickets to Dormanstown. Tony Lloyd top scored with an unbeaten 57 for Dormanstown, scoring three fours and Phillip Lloyd had one six and six boundaries in 54. Humphrey lead the Cowpen Bewley innings with a six and two boundaries included in 33 and Quinn added a valuable 25 but when man of the match Tony Lloyd was introduced into the Dormanstown attack and claimed five wickets for only 18 runs in 11.4 overs, five of which were maidens, the Cowpen Bewley innings struggled.

Blacksmith Arms scored just 115 for eight but made Moorsholm work hard for a two wickets victory. Keith Harding was in good form for Moorsholm and he batted throughout the innings finishing with 43 not out. His opening partner Wheatman added 20 and Hucker 26 but thereafter wickets fell cheaply especially to King who claimed five wickets for only 24 runs. Prosser with two for 12, gave support, but when Harding carried his bat, it was Moorsholm who won.

Batting first, Blacksmiths Arms were indebted to Sherwood for his 21 runs batting at number three and for Moorsholm Hucker took four wickets for 20 runs and Allison two for 24.

Ormesby Hall were all out for 129 but they too baffled before losing by two wickets to New Marske. Porritt and Lynn who opened the New Marske reply both contributed 24 and when the visitors were in danger Lightwing and Hailstone combined in an unbroken ninth wicket stand. The two batsmen contributed 23 valuable runs between them as Roberts with four for 43 and Poole (two for 26) threatened to snatch victory for Ormesby Hall. When they made first use of the wicket Ormesby Hall were in early trouble. Their first four batsmen managed only 15 runs before them but Gafoor came to the rescue with a timely innings of 64. Assisted by no fewer than 31 extras a total of 129 was realised even though Hailstone took four for 43, Taggart three for 20 and Porritt two for 18 in the New Marske reply.