York Cricket Club's fears that the season could be one of gloom and doom have been translated into a new found optimism.

While their Yorkshire League standing is not all it might be the weather has ensured that few clubs have had a really happy start to the season.

York entered the millennium with some trepidation as captain of ten years standing, Ian Dews, left to captain the Yorkshire Academy XI.

Also, James Lupton had moved to Cheshire and Julian Ramsay left for Kent.

It deprived the club of three batsmen and two bowlers and, as the season started, one of their likely replacements, Richard Musgrave, decided to jump across the fence to Clifton Alliance.

Further, a bruising year in the premier division of the York Senior League had left the club uncertain as to how their second string might fare this term.

The first team, with an average age of only 22 and seven players under 21, has threatened to win every game but the opposition's greater experience has prevailed on a couple of occasions.

The side holds a mid-table position but, as 13 points encompass nine teams, there is still a lot of sorting out to be done.

One major reason for this advance is the batting of Marcus Wood who, with Stephen Piercy, has generally assured a good start and gone on to score heavily.

As Nick Kay has been in the runs, it only needs Yorkshire Under 17 batter Simon Mason to find the muse and the team should be able to muster realistic totals.

The arrival of Australian Nash Stone from Brisbane has given the bowling penetration and he has already picked up over 20 wickets, as well as adding useful runs with the bat which is his specialism back home.

He has been supported by the dependable Greg How and the ever-improving Rob Lancaster.

In the wings is last week's debutant Ed Senneck, who is at York University and is a Sussex Under 19 player.

He is a very correct left handed bat and useful off-spinner - in fact, a youthful replica of Dews himself.

Perhaps the outstanding feature has been the team spirit engendered by Nigel Durham's leadership which has sparked some outstanding fielding.

Life has not proved bad either for the seconds as they appear to be more than holding their own in division one. Australian Kieron Barton, promoted from the thirds last year, is already having an impact with both runs and wickets.

With Alec Backhouse likely to make significant contributions as the year proceeds, John McGrady's team will hope to maintain their place among the leaders as there is genuine competition for places with at least 30 players capable of playing in the first two elevens.

York are also attempting to develop women's cricket in the area.

In co-operation with the York and Scarborough area council the club are to provide sessions next Wednesday for schoolgirls and on Thursday for over 16s to try to lay the foundation for a women's club in the city.

The sessions are at 6.15pm and all are welcome.

Yorkshire is the leading county for women's cricket and York aim to have a significant presence in the women's game.

The sessions will be led by Ian Dews, the Area Development Officer, and members of the Yorkshire Women's Cricket Association.