YORK Cricket Club's home encounter with Cleethorpes at Clifton Park tomorrow is given crucial significance as they try to re-establish themselves as genuine Oxbridge Yorkshire ECB County Premier League title contenders.

Both sides have shown potential and promise this season but have been pulled up in their tracks.

York will have recognised that they missed the boat at Sheffield United last weekend when they misread the signs and fell seven runs short of a comfortable target.

Cleethorpes, like York, boast an impressive array of young talent.

Last season, they were boosted by the exploits of New Zealand Test player Mathew Sinclair, whose progress is currently in limbo after a loss of form.

For this season, they have an Aussie import, Shane Deitz, who is no stranger to Yorkshire cricket. He played previously in the Huddersfield League.

Deltz is an attractive batsman whose leg spin bowling has also proved successful. So far this summer, when he has failed Cleethorpes have struggled.

York have expressed their confidence in the team that failed narrowly at Sheffield although Simon Mason remains a slight injury worry.

After his excellent half-century at Bawtry Road, he reported the recurrence of a groin strain and had to pull out of the league's White Rose Trophy Under-21 X1 against the Wetherby League last Sunday.

The inter-league contest, though, gave Stephen Piercy (80 not out) a chance to play a quality, match-winning innings and Tom Pringle (3-33) made a good impression in his first representative appearance.

Pringle, who missed the trip to Sheffield United because of examination pressures, is added to the York squad for the Cleethorpes encounter.

Skipper Nigel Durham will decide on the final line-up after a pitch and conditions inspection tomorrow morning. The player omitted from the 12 will travel to Ripon with the second team.

League leaders Doncaster, with Yorkshire reject Simon Widdup in imperious batting form, should prove too strong for Hull.

That said, Hull ruined South Yorkshire side Barnsley's unbeaten run last week, so Barnsley will want to profit from a trip to Appleby Frodingham.

Appleby are without a league point, but take comfort from a cup win against Rotherham last Sunday.

Driffield, also still to break their duck, will be hoping for an up-turn in fortune at Rotherham.

Harrogate experienced the full fire-power of title-holders Sheffield Collegiate at Abbeydale last week, but with all-rounder Peter Hepworth, new signing Alexis Twigg and John Inglis beginning to hit form, they should be too strong for Castleford.

Match of the day is at North Marine Road where Darren Harland has celebrated his elevation as skipper with some excellent innings.

The Seasiders' Aussie signing Clint Heron has made a big impact and it will be interesting to see how they cope with visitors Sheffield Collegiate.

Updated: 12:02 Friday, May 24, 2002