Skipper’s ‘pride’ at York Cricket Club triumph (From York Press)

Skipper’s ‘pride’ at York Cricket Club's Kingfisher Beer Cup triumph

11:50am Monday 17th September 2012 in Sport By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter

YORK Cricket Club captain Dan Woods expressed his enormous pride after his side won the Kingfisher Beer Cup at Derbyshire – landing their first national knockout crown for 37 years.

The Clifton Parkers triumphed over Wanstead & Snaresbrook by eight wickets in a largely one- sided game at the County Ground, which saw spinner Tom Pringle take 4-22 and batsman Oli Hairs hit a marvellous 68 not out off only 45 balls as York overhauled their opponents’ total of 162 with 15 overs to spare.

Woods said: “It is an incredible achievement. We are immensely proud of what we have done. It was a great day. There are mixed emotions – relief and, obviously, ultimate joy and happiness. it means the world.

“It’s a competition that a lot of us joined the club to do well in. It’s a bit surreal.

“It is something we pinpointed at the start of the year. To play at a first-class ground is brilliant and the support was wonderful.

“We’ve been supported throughout the whole country and to have everyone singing your name is amazing. I had a sleepless night (on Saturday). You could never have imagined it would be this good. It’s a very proud day.”

York last won the trophy, also known as the ECB National Club Championship, when beating Blackpool in 1975 and playing meant so much to Pringle, he had an injection in an injured shoulder to make sure he could take the field.

He added: “I’ve had tendonitis in two areas of my shoulder and I think I have torn my rotator cuff as well so I have a couple of tears in various parts. It’s been pretty painful to be fair.

“The chairman, Nigel Durham, is a doctor and he got me an injection on Friday. He strapped me up and gave me painkillers so it is probably due to him that I was able to play. I am very grateful otherwise I would have missed out.

“The first two overs hurt a bit and then I got a wicket, and a bit of adrenalin, and I think that’s the best painkiller in the world. It was nice to do it on a personal level but, for the team, it’s the cup that’s eluded us. To get over the line is just amazing.”