THE Feversham Cricket League still exists, albeit in further truncated form.

There are now only four participating teams - Gillamoor, Harome, High Farndale and Spout House - Slingsby having resigned owing to a player shortage.

These four teams will play each other three times before June 30 and there will also be a top three play-off competition.

The winners of a match between the second and third-placed teams will take on the league champions, both matches to take place on Harome's ground.

The Lady Feversham cup has been enhanced by three other teams accepting an invitation to enter.

Draw. - First round: A Harome v Wombleton; B Gillamoor v High Farndale; C Spout House v Rievaulx.

Semi-finals: A v B; C v Nawton Grange.

The first league result to be received saw High Farndale win a high-scoring encounter at Harome by 23 runs.

On a dark, damp night the captains agreed 16 overs would be enough. High Farndale openers Kevin Wilson and Brian Leckenby looked in good form and took advantage of Harome's young bowlers' inability to control the wet ball.

Leckenby reached 50, but was then brilliantly run out by Stephen Dodsworth. Wilson moved on to 55 before being caught and bowled by Justin Palmer.

Harome then managed to slow High Farndale down a little, but they still reached 143-4, with Rob Aconley 17 not out.

In reply, Harome never quite got on terms with the required run rate, but they did just enough to keep it interesting.

Openers Phil Marwood and veteran Charles Pickard started well, but Rob Aconley pegged them back, bowling four tight overs for 15 runs.

Marwood was run out for 28 before Pickard departed for a solid 34. Palmer played particularly well, ending on 40 not out, as Harome eventually had to make do with 120-2.

* See pages 26 and 27 for the rest of the local cricket reports.