YORK Cricket Club are up and running - now skipper Nick Kay wants his emerging side to start playing to their potential.

After opening the season with two defeats in the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League, the Clifton Parkers got off the mark at the third time of asking with a 107-run victory over defending champions Yorkshire Academy.

It was a welcome win for Kay and his men, who are straight back into action with a double-header this weekend. A league trip to Doncaster Town awaits tomorrow before York host Teesside club Stockton in the second round of the Royal London Club Championship on Sunday.

Reflecting on that win over the Academy, Kay said: “It was the first time as a unit that we did well with the bat and ball.

“There were flashes of good cricket in the first two games but, on Monday, we were the better team and we got the result.

“The team has changed from last year, there are a lot of guys fresh to it.

“You just felt before Monday that confidence was a little bit low but the attitude was right, the commitment was fantastic and, when we play at our best, we are going to win more matches than we lose.”

Jack Leaning returned to play in the win but, although he took 4-26, Kay said every member of the side contributed to the victory.

“For a Yorkshire first class player to show the professionalism he did for York was a huge credit,” he explained.

“He was fantastic for the dressing room and it really rubbed off on all the players.”

Kay added: “To play two and have lost two was difficult for us to come to terms with. We are now playing catch up. I don’t want us to look at the league table - that will take care of itself - but we have got to do well every week.

“We can’t take any games for granted. I have got absolute trust in the team to play well. We have some fabulous cricketers and I see glimpses of us trying to compete at the top of the league. “ Looking ahead to Doncaster and Stockton, captain Kay said: “Doncaster Town will come at us hard. It’s a ground where we have got a pretty good record.

“Our batting line-up is very powerful and has the ability to bat teams out of games of cricket.

“That’s what I will be saying to the lads.

“We have played a lot of the North East premier teams but we have never come across Stockton.

They were an improving side last year. They rely on a couple of county professionals who can’t play against us. They have already won one game and they will play tough cricket.”

Kay will be able to call on a full- strength side against Doncaster.

Leaning resumes county duties with Yorkshire but Ryan McKendry, missing last week after playing for Leeds UCCE, will return to the side.

Adam Whatley, can’t play in the Royal London Club Championship as he is an Australian, but Chris Booth will make his debut for the Clifton Parkers.