Castleford crowned Champions

Castleford are the newly crowned champions of the Hunters ECB Yorkshire Premier League North, the Savile Park club becoming the fourth different side to do so, in the first five seasons of the competition, ending a 59 year wait for a top-flight title. Their unassailable lead was sealed with a six-wicket win against relegation threatened Stamford Bridge at Low Catton Road. Eddie Morrison (3-38) took three wickets and there were two each for Matthew Rees and David Wainwright as the home sides batting woes continued, and they were indebted to James Keast (50) whose half-century and a ninth wicket partnership alongside Rhys Crowe (27no) eventually got the side to 191-9. Opener Liam Hyde top scored in the visitors reply making 71 and by the time he became the third of four wickets for Keast (4-35) the team were well on their way to victory Andrew Bourke scoring the winning runs in the penultimate over with Christopher Briggs unbeaten on 34. 

 

Woodhouse Grange remain favourites to finish in the runners-up spot for the third consecutive season after they won at local rivals Dunnington by seven wickets. The home side reached 181-9 lead by George Drury (65) who shared partnerships of 76 with Luke Kilby (34) and 55 alongside Jack Bolam (38). There were three wickets each for Tom Neal (3-35) and Christopher Suddaby (3-35). Opener Stephen Burdett fell one short of a half-century before the competition’s leading run-scorer Christopher Bilton (54no) passed fifty for the tenth time in the campaign and put on 100 for the third wicket with skipper James Finch (42) as the visitors chased down the target with almost five overs to spare. 

 

Away from the top pressure is mounting at the foot of the table where Driffield Town must win at least one of their remaining two games to stand a chance of avoiding relegation. That comes after they were bowled out for 124 to lose at Scarborough by 89 runs, Jack Holt with season best figures of 5-40. James Wainman (3-51) also took three wickets to cap a fine all-round performance, after he made 42 earlier in the day adding 58 in a stand with Ben Elvidge (58) who scored his fourth half-century of the season. Oliver Stephenson (47) continued his impressive run scoring form of late at the top of the order laying the platform for a final total of 213-9 which included three wickets each from James Anson (3-48) and former Scarborough skipper Sam Drury (3-24). 

 

York guaranteed their Premier League status for next season with a win over local rivals Acomb by eight wickets in a game which saw Duncan Snell become the first player to make 100 YPLN appearances and his captain Ryan McKendry score an unbeaten 68 to go alongside the 74 made against Dunnington last week. That match was washed out but this time conditions were very different the visiting skipper and Finlay Bean (27no) securing the victory with an unbroken partnership of 71. Earlier on the home side had been going well with Darius D’Silva (34) at the wicket but the loss of five wickets in the space of eleven runs cut their innings short Simon Lambert the pick of the bowlers finishing with 3-21. 

 

Despite the defeat Acomb are also safe with the sole relegation place set be decided between Harrogate, who were without a fixture following the withdrawal of Yorkshire Academy, Stamford Bridge and Driffield Town who play each other on the final day of the season. 

 

In the days other game Tommy Hudson (53no) lead Sheriff Hutton Bridge to a five-wicket victory at Clifton Alliance, who have lost two in a row since completing a run of seven straight wins. Andrew Whaits (57) top scored for the home side who reached 164-8, all five Bridge bowlers contributing at least one wicket, Freddie Collins the pick with 2-23 from 11.4 overs. A solid performance from the visiting top order included 32 from opener Mark Fisher who put on 53 for the first wicket alongside his elder brother Adam (24), set up a comfortable victory despite a slight wobble towards the end. 

Report by Kevin Hutchinson