WOODHOUSE Grange retained the Hunters York Premier League Cup when they defeated Dunnington by 27 runs in a superb final at Osbaldwick.

Grange, who were appearing in their fourth successive final, were asked to take first innings but lost their first wicket at 28 when Richard Steele was bowled by Kashif Mahmood for 11.

By this time, his partner Nick Hadfield had already scored the seven runs required to enable him to surpass Simon Kellett's competition record aggregate of 296 made by the Dunnington man in 2003.

Hadfield, whose previous scores in the competition had been 105, 79no and 106, then found a good partner in Simon Dwyer as the pair added 85 for the second wicket before Dwyer was lbw to Collis King for 27.

Mike Burdett then made 25 before he was also out lbw, this time to Hamed Khan. However, Grange seemed to be some 30 runs short of par with six overs remaining. Hadfield and skipper Steve Burdett then upped the rate with style with Hadfield becoming the first player to hit three centuries in a season in the League Cup as he moved to an unbeaten 111. With Burdett making 22no, Woodhouse were able to post a useful 208-3.

Dunnington, who were making their eighth final appearance in nine years, made a similar start to their opponents as they reached 27 before Simon Kellett fell for ten when he was superbly caught by Simon Dwyer.

Hamed Khan was in fine form but, having made 43 out of 66 fell to a smart stumping by Mike Burdett as Hadfield showed his slow bowling talents.

His dismissal was soon followed by that of Collis King who had a rare failure but Dave Greenlay batted well to make 39 before he was fourth out at 107.

Skipper Harwood Williams took up the mantle, hitting 36, but when his dismissal was quickly followed by that of Paul Miles who fell to a sensational caught and bowled by Joel Hughes, Dunnington's hopes of regaining the title were ended.

Throughout the innings, the Woodhouse ground fielding and, even more so, their catching had been brilliant and this continued to the end of the game as Hughes ensured victory for Grange with a fine spell of bowling which saw him close with figures of 5-35, the best figures of the season in the competition.

With Hughes also taking two catches he was a serious contender for the Ian Reed Memorial Trophy which is awarded to the man-of-the-match in the final but league president Jeff Carlton opted for Hadfield for his unbeaten century and eight economical overs which gained him 1-23.


Hunter's The Estate Agent York and District Senior League Premier Cup (at Osbaldwick)

Woodhouse Grange: R J Steele b Mahmood 11, N G Hadfield not out 111, S R Dwyer lbw King 27, M N Burdett lbw Khan 25, S D Burdett not out 22. Extras 12. Total: 208-3.

Dis not bat: A J Anderson, J Rudd, J Hughes, T S Quinn, P L Grewer, B Winger.

Fall: 1-28, 2-113, 3-156.

Bowling: K Mahmood 8-1-43-1, D Kitching 6-0-30-0, S A Kellett 8-2-25-0, D G Greenlay 3-0-27-0, C L King 8-1-44-1, M H Khan 7-0-31-1.

Dunnington: S A Kellett c Dwyer b Hughes 10, M H Khan st M Burdett b Hadfield 43, D G Greenlay c Wingerb S Burdett 39, C L King c S Burdett b Grewer 4, J Bolam c Hughes b Quinn 10, H W Williams c S Burdett b Hughes 36, P A Miles c and b Hughes 14, K Mahmood b Hughes 9, D Kitching c Grewer b Hughes 4, J Castle not out 1, D Hall not out 0. Extras 10. Total: 181-9.

Fall: 1-27, 2-66, 3-82, 4-107, 5-136, 6-163, 7-168, 8-180, 9-181 Bowling: B Winger 6-1-31-0, J Hughes 8-0-35-5, P L Grewer 8-1-31-1, N G Hadfield 8-1-23-1, S D Burdett 6-0-32-1, T S Quinn 4-0-23-1.

Umpires: Colin Armstrong and Steve Warren.


Woodhouse Grange won by 27 runs.