YORK all-rounder Nick Kay has tagged the second of this weekend’s brace of games as the most vital of the season so far – and not because he has notched the “absolute honour”.

After tomorrow’s home encounter against Appleby Frodingham in the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League, the Clifton Park clan await the visit of fellow league rivals Doncaster Town in the area final of the Kingfisher Beer Cup on Sunday.

That’s when Kay will captain the hosts in the absence of Dan Woods, who is leading Cheshire in the Minor Counties, but the Sabbath is also when York can edge closer to the dream of making the national last 16 of the cup they won ten months ago.

Declared Kay: “It’s always an honour and a privilege to captain the side any time, but I’d say Sunday’s match was the biggest game of the season so far.

“If we get through the regional final we are just three games away from another national final. We have always maintained that qualifying from the Yorkshire group is the toughest part. If we get through this we will be in the last 16 nationally.”

The vice-captain was also acutely aware the same incentive awaits their Doncaster visitors. And while York have beaten them already this season in the league, Sunday’s tie will be a one-off where form is of little consequence.

“Doncaster have pulled off their best performances of the season for the national competition beating Wickersley and Hanging Heaton already. This is going to be a cracking tie,” he said.

Besides Kay stepping up in place of Woods, the knockout tussle will also include Jonathan Moxon who misses tomorrow’s league game against Appleby Frodingham as he rests his injured back.

Tom Love also plays tomorrow in place of Gareth Fenton as the only other change from last week’s win at Rotherham Town.

Woods will lead from the front tomorrow against visitors, who Kay reckoned were lodged in mid-table only because of their youthful make-up.

“Appleby Frodingham are a young side capable of beating anyone in the league but also likely to lose. They were bowled out for only 40 runs (in the cup against Scarborough) last week,” he said.

“We will be seeking to get on top in the first ten to 20 overs whether bowling or batting first and put the pressure on them straight away. If we do that, then with home advantage we would be confident of winning.

“But cricket can bite you on the backside as it did when we lost our only game of the season so far against Driffield.”