YORK Cricket Club will contest this year's Black Sheep Trophy final despite being knocked out of the competition.

The Clifton Park outfit have been re-instated into the tournament after 15-run semi-final conquerors Pudsey St Lawrence were found guilty of fielding former Yorkshire Board captain Chris Gott as an ineligible player.

Gott, who did not bowl or bat and dropped two catches in the game, had failed to play the required two club matches before the last-four clash and the decision to play him has cost St Lawrence the opportunity to take on neighbours Pudsey Congs.

Five-time Bradford League champions Congs, with an unofficial reputation as English cricket's top club team, now await York in the September 4 final, which pits the winners of Yorkshire's respective leagues against each other, at Streethouse, Pontefract.

York enter the final period of the season with five matches to play and a seven-point lead over Harrogate plus the comfort of having a match in hand over their rivals, whom they entertain at Clifton Park on Bank Holiday Monday.

However, the screw tightened a little with the news that third-placed Castleford may receive an eight-point bonus awarded when the Yorkshire ECB Premier League Executive awarded them the match against Rotherham as the South Yorkshire Club had played an ineligible player.

Rotherham had won the match, which was one of seven early season fixtures featuring the ineligible player.

However, as Rotherham may appeal the decision, the points re-allocation is not yet being included in official league tables.

Tomorrow's visitors to Clifton Park are Hull, formerly one of the League's leading clubs but who are now struggling.

Tom Bartram comes into the 11 and York, with six bowlers, are hoping to have the batting strength to overcome the Humberside outfit.

Updated: 11:47 Friday, August 19, 2005