Langbaurgh League CRATHORNE'S defeat at the hands of Great Broughton meant Kirby Sigston took sole possession of the top spot on the Inshore Fisheries Langbaurgh League ladder last week after a convincing victory over Moorsholm.

Moors were asked to bat first and responded with a solid start as Martin Pearson (27), Mark Eland (30) and Rob Whitwell (31) all performed well - however they received little support from the middle order which saw them eventually restricted to 147-8. Neil Kendrew added another four scalps to his already impressive Sigston tally and Ian Raynor picked up three.

Raynor then completed a fine all-round display, registering a half-century and combining in an opening partnership of 94 with Dave Thompson (48) that effectively sealed the issue. Kevin Philliskirk then picked up three quick wickets, but they were merely the consolation prize as the new outright leaders claimed a seven-wicket win.

Crathorne were never at the races at Great Broughton as Gareth Davies and David Blaydon put them to the sword. The duo bowled unchanged, with Blaydon claiming 6-51 and Davies 4-40, as the visitors were dismissed for just 104 in the 36th over. Piers Mitchell then wasted little time in smashing seven fours and four maximums in his unbeaten 58 as the home side romped home with seven wickets to spare.

Hartlepool Power Station took over second spot after a convincing run chase at Hutton Rudby. The home side looked in trouble at 81-5 but Gareth Jones (54no) and Martin Lane (28no) scored at almost a run a ball to lead them up to a more than respectable 164-5.

However, this proved to be nowhere near enough against the visitor's potent batting line-up and despite a rare failure from Liam Prosser, John Holmes and Simon McKenna struck half centuries to lead their side to an eight-wicket success.

East Harlsey were another team to knock off a big score, chasing down Norton's 193-8. Lee Alexander struck eight boundaries in his 64 as Norton set an imposing target, however Aaron Ramsbottom's fine form with the bat continued and his unbeaten half century saw his side through to a four-wicket victory.

Kildale were the other victorious Division One side as they defeated Stafford Place by 64 runs thanks in no small part to Dan Doughty's unbeaten 76 and Dan Bowman's five-wicket haul.

In Division Two, Ingleby Greenhow's Neville Auffret must be wondering what more he has to do to be on a winning side. On a batsman-friendly wicket the talented finger spinner claimed what on most days would be matchwinning figures of 8-35 against Maltby, only to see his side fall six runs short of their 112-run target.

The result kept Maltby on top of the table, with Scruton in second after a comfortable win over Swainby. Thimbleby have a game in hand on the top two and are loitering with intent just four points behind after they defeated Chop Gate by eight wickets. In the day's other game Skelton Castle defeated East Harlsey's second string.