Beckett League Premier Division: Staithes take record-breaking 10th top flight win in a row

The top two in the Premier Division, Staithes and Staxton, both registered two wins from the double-header weekend in the top flight.
Filey's Josh Dawson appeals for a wicket during his side's win against Mulgrave on Saturday. Picture: Steve LillyFiley's Josh Dawson appeals for a wicket during his side's win against Mulgrave on Saturday. Picture: Steve Lilly
Filey's Josh Dawson appeals for a wicket during his side's win against Mulgrave on Saturday. Picture: Steve Lilly

Staithes beat Flixton 2nds on Saturday to register another maximum-point win as their bid to defend their Premier Division title gathered more pace.

Staithes posted an imposing 242-7 with Stuart Pearson their top scorer with 64.

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Support came from Tom Steyert (55), Richard Hegarty (43) and Chris Morrison (36), as Connor Stephenson took 4-39.

Josh Till and captain Mark Shackley made 43 in reply, but seam bowler Stuart Theaker took 4-21 and Steyert completed a superb performance with 3-32 as Flixton were 167 all out.

Linden Gray and Dave Morris inspired Staxton to a 19-run win at Nawton Grange.

Morris' 57 and 33 from Chris Dove helped Staxton post 197-8.

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Joe Lush hit 45 in reply for Grange and Charlie Allott also went to a half-century, but 3-29 from off-spinner Gray ensured Grange fell to 178 all out.

Filey's Ben Cuthbertson took a superb 6-35 to help his side to victory against rock-bottom Mulgrave.

The Whitby-based side won the toss and elected to bat first, but were all out for just 103 despite 25 from Chris Clarkson.

All-rounder Josh Dawson (35) and Aaron Howard (25no) helped Filey to a six-wicket win in just 15 overs.

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Forge Valley held their nerve to seal a win at home to Scalby.

Mick Glew and Gary Gibson hit 28 but veteran spinner Paul Hesp (5-19) ensured Valley were restricted to 183 all out.

Bradley Walker led the reply with 51 and he found good support from Ryan Labuschange (39), but 4-28 from pace bowler Nazar Khan helped Valley to a crucial victory, Scalby finishing just 10 runs short on 173-9.

Cayton claimed their first win in seven games as they edged past Heslerton by three wickets.

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Jake Keyworth (29), Tony Watson (33), Sam Triffitt (24) and a late forceful 45 from Stuart Pickard helped Heslerton to 165 all out.

Aussie spinner Alex Townsend (3-31) was Cayton’s stand-out bowler.

Cayton made a steady start but slipped from 86-1 to 86-3 as Tom Benthall claimed two wickets in two balls and the visitors duly slipped to 145-7.

Paul Pennock (34) and Josh Brown (28) contributed, but Townsend hit a composed 51no to take Cayton to victory with one over to spare, Adam Spaven claiming 3-33 for Heslerton.

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Seamer's impressive run chase helped them to a win at home against Ebberston.

Ebberston batted first and club stalwart Adrian Turnbull hit 75 and Damien Readman added 45 to help them to 196-8.

Adam Morris took 4-30 for the hosts, before Gregg Chadwick (82no) led the reply and with good support from Adam Robertshaw, who made 39, as Seamer completed a six-wicket win with plenty of time to spare.

On Sunday, league leaders Staithes moved 24 points clear at the top as they staged a remarkable fightback at Heslerton, making it 10 wins on the spin, a club record in the Premier Division.

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Heslerton batted first and openers Jake Keyworth (40) and Rob Middlewood, who top scored with 63 started well, but the introduction of Andrew Theaker (3-34) changed the game and Heslerton fell away to 166-9 from 43 rain reduced overs.

Heslerton paceman Adam Spaven then set about the visitors batting line up as Staithes slipped to 121-8 despite 48 from Richard Ward.

Spaven claimed a superb 7-55 but Chris Morrison remain firm and anchored the innings with a brilliant match winning 79 not out as Staithes edged home with 17 balls remaining

Second placed Staxton reduced Flixton 2nds to 31-6 as Adam Hargreaves (5-22) wreaked havoc, but a superb recovery led by Jake Hatton, who made an unbeaten 65 from 93 balls, and 31 not out (67 balls) from Josh Till saw Flixton post 125-6 from 36 reduced overs.

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James Armstrong led the reply with an unbeaten 67 from 101 balls and Chris Dove added 33 not out as Staxton eased home by eight wickets with five overs to spare

Ebberston won the toss at third place Nawton Grange, but only Eddie Craggs responded with any form as he top-scored with 46 in a disappointing 119 all out.

Adam Durrant took 3-40, Nathan Marwood 2-22 and Jack Cranage, loaned from Division Two side Great Habton, also claimed 3-28.

Craggs also took two early wickets, but Jack Dowson (41no) and 39 not out from skipper Jonny Pickard steered Nawton to their ninth win of an impressive season in 27.4 overs, while Ebberston fell to the tenth defeat in their last 11 matches.

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In a nail-biter Seamer travelled to the East Coast and asked Filey to bat first. John Hunter top scored with 35 and Phil Dickens added 26, but Liam Bennett’s 5-41 ensured maximum bowling points for the visitors, Filey all out for 167.

David Graham led the reply with a fine 73 and despite 3-32 from Josh Dawson, Craig Baker guided his side home to an exciting one-wicket win with an unbeaten 35.

Forge Valley made it back to back wins over the weekend after winning at home against bottom of the table Mulgrave.

Valley stuck Mulgrave in to bat who seemed well placed at 90-3 after 24 overs before the rain halted play.

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Upon resumption and the game reduced to 38 overs, Andy Thompson hit 54 and Craig Thompson added 42, but 5-56 from returning paceman James Tindall slowed things down as Mulgrave posted a competitive 170-8.

Tom Brough was in no mood to hang around and he laid siege to the visiting attack to register his second century of the campaign, finishing unbeaten on 114 and with Charles Tindall adding an unbeaten 37, Valley romped home in 30.4 overs.

Scalby were another team to secure a narrow one-wicket win, at home against Cayton, who won the toss and elected bat.

Alex Townsend made 32 and with Josh Brown and John Crowe both hitting 31, the visitors posted 141 all out in 42 overs.

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Paul Hesp was again the leading Scalby performer, taking 4-28, passing the 40 wicket mark for the summer in the process while James Deaves collected 3-42.

Joe Hills (47) and Brad Walker (39) were the leading contributors as Scalby edged a single from the last ball to win by just one wicket, to register their fourth straight home win despite excellent bowling from left armer Harry Holden, who claimed 5-48.

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