RICHARD Dawson's career-best 6-82 dented Glamorgan's hopes of avoiding relegation from the County Championship First Division yesterday and helped Yorkshire complete stage one of their final push to a first title in 33 years.

With the champions elect needing a maximum-points win to finish the job this week, the young off-spinner made the major contribution to a full house of bowling points as Glamorgan were bowled out for 223 on the first day.

Only a typically stubborn half-century from Glamorgan captain Adrian Dale (pictured) (59) held Yorkshire up appreciably on a day and pitch which looked good for batting.

But Glamorgan were not helped by an ankle injury to Matthew Mayanrd in the warm-up, which ruled him out of the game.

Dawson nipped out Glamorgan's top three before lunch and then ended the middle order's hopes of frustrating Yorkshire further in an irresistible half-hour either side of tea. The 21-year-old began with the important wicket of opener Jimmy Maher with only the third ball he bowled, which turned to hit leg stump behind the Australian's legs as he tried to sweep.

Number three Michael Powell opened his account with two strides down the wicket and a six over long-on off the final ball of Dawson's eventful first over. But the Yorkshireman got his revenge by scuttering a ball through from under the length to hit Powell's off stump, after the batsman had perhaps chosen the wrong one to try to pull.

Dawson then snuffed out Newport's Ian Thomas with the last ball before lunch - a straight-on delivery into the left-hander's pads to win an lbw decision and end a session-long vigil which mustered just 18 runs after a reprieve on nought when Matthew Wood dropped a slip catch off Steve Kirby.

Ryan Sidebottom (3-34) aided Dawson and broke a stubborn 72-rub stans between Dale and wicketkeeper Mark Wallace in his first over back just before tea, Dale's 50 included five fours and Darren Thomas stayed long enough to help him hoist the 200.

Yorkshire were 33-0 at the close.