York Cricket Club sharpening up at the double (From York Press)

York Cricket Club sharpening up at the double

10:58am Friday 13th July 2012 in Sport By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter

FORMER Northants player Gareth Sharp has been brought back in to boost York Cricket Club’s attack.

The 28-year-old, once on the books of the county side and who works with captain Dan Woods at St Olave’s and St Peter’s Schools, will replace Andrew Tute, who last week returned to Acomb because of family commitments.

An off-spin bowler and middle-order batsman, Sharp’s arrival is a fillip to the Clifton Park club who, once again, were left frustrated after another weekend of no cricket because of the bad weather.

The forecast doesn’t look promising this time around either, with York due to entertain struggling Sheffield United in the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League tomorrow before welcoming Ockbrook and Borrowash for a rescheduled last 16 ECB National Club Challenge tie on Sunday.

York are fifth in the league table and have lost just twice during the campaign but, with five of their 13 matches having fallen victim to the weather, are still 19 points adrift of leaders Harrogate with just ten games still to play.

And, with fixture after fixture having been called off, Woods and his men are a frustrated bunch.

“There is definitely frustration through the club at what’s happening and the amount of hard work, not just from the groundsman but from fellow players chipping in, to try to make the ground playable,” he said.

“Then another shower comes and the game has gone. We are still meeting up on a regular basis, training as much as we can, and watching the weather forecasts. It’s out of our control and we are just trying to get on with it.

“In the league, we have got to the stage where we need a run of games to put a string of results together. A good result on Saturday would stand us in good stead for Sunday. We want to make sure we get the game in (against Ockbrook and Borrowash).

“We know they have cricketers with professional experience but so do we. There is nothing we should be concerned about and we should go in full of confidence. The fact we are at home should lift us.

“We are full of respect for them. They are an excellent side, as you would expect, but we are confident going into the game and, fingers crossed, we will get it on and there will also be a good crowd.”

Nick Kay is the only absentee from the side which beat Blaydon in the regional final while, tomorrow, Sharp, who played last summer for York, will be joined by second-teamer Steve Jones.

Woods, meanwhile, is offering one-to-one cricket coaching at Clifton Park on demand throughout the summer.

The skipper is a qualified level two coach and will school youngsters, of any age, in the finer points of batting and bowling.

For further details, phone him on 07846 438048.