Cricket: Away draws for York’s big trophy pair (From York Press)

Cricket: Away draws for York’s big trophy pair

11:25am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Sport By Stuart Martel, Sports editor

YORK and Woodhouse Grange have been drawn away in round one of cricket’s Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy.

Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League champions York will travel to Aire Wharfe League winners Collingham in their last-eight tie.

Sutton-on-Derwent-based Woodhouse Grange, winners of the Hunters York & District Senior League, face a trip to South Yorkshire League kings Treeton.

The annual competition brings together the champions from Yorkshire’s seven leading cricket leagues to compete against the holders on a knockout basis.

Clifton Park-based York are regulars in the tournament, having lifted the Yorkshire League crown for six successive years.

If captain Daniel Woods and his men overcome Collingham, they will travel to Central Yorkshire Leaguers Wrenthorpe or Drakes Huddersfield League champions Hoylandswaine in the semi-finals.

York fell at the first hurdle in 2012, losing by only 13 runs away to Bradford League champions Woodlands in round one despite a half-century by Oliver Hairs and a five-wicket haul for Jake Murphy.

If Grange, representing the York & District Senior League for the fourth time in the last five years, overcome their first hurdle they will host holders Whitley Hall, of the South Yorkshire League, or Woodlands in the last four.

Grange club secretary David Farmer said: “This is a particularly tough draw, but we are proud to represent our league in this competition.

“We look upon it as an opportunity for our players, particularly our younger players, to gain from the experience of matching themselves against some very good opposition.”

Last year, Grange were beaten by seven wickets in the semi-finals by eventual winners Whitley Hall. Nick Hadfield and Tom Young both made half-centuries in a losing cause for Grange.