NEW Woodhouse Grange captain James Finch is settling in nicely at the club and enjoying the start his side have made to this Yorkshire Premier League North campaign.

The former Yorkshire second XI off-spinner arrived in November after eight years at Barnard Castle.

He has guided his side to fifth place after two games, including last week’s impressive win over title hopefuls Stamford Bridge.

Tomorrow, Grange travel to another of Finch’s former employers in table-toppers Scarborough, who enjoyed a two-wicket victory at Harrogate on Bank Holiday Monday.

Being new to the club, Finch has not set any outlandish aims for the season and is happy to see where the campaign takes his side – as long as they make their mark on each and every game.

He said: “We’re just aiming to be competitive, give a good account of ourselves and see where it gets us.

“It’s obviously not very often someone comes into a club as captain so everybody’s just getting to know each other.

“We’ve drawn one and won one so far – if you’d told us that at the start of the season we’d have snapped your hand off.

“We’re very happy as we’ve had a lot of changes on a playing level and off the pitch – and we were definitely happy beating Stamford Bridge.

“I was speaking to a couple of their players and they were saying they have aspirations to win the league, so it’s a massive result.

“We had no right to win the game either – they were in the driving seat for much of it.

“I’m really enjoying it here. Changing club after eight years at Barnard Castle is big – you’re almost part of the furniture.

“But I couldn’t be happier. Everybody’s been very welcoming, and a couple of wins has put a smile on their faces.”

Finch expects to have a full squad for the trip to North Marine Road tomorrow, barring 16-year-old Yorkshire Academy player Chris Wood for whom Mike Hattee will come in.

Two off-season recruits Finch is excited about are brothers Simon and Sam Tennant. Sam joined from Stamford Bridge while Simon came down along with Finch from Barnard Castle.

Finch said: “Everyone’s excited about Wood. He’s got potential so we’ll see how he progresses. I think Simon will be one of the best signings the club has made.

“We’ll be able to field a strong side on Saturday, fingers crossed.

“We’re just taking it week by week and seeing what happens. We’re looking forward to it. I think that’s how we’ll treat the whole season, just see what turns up.

“If we can be competitive, we’ll be happy.”

Acomb, who last week shared the competition’s first tie at home to Driffield, tomorrow visit Woodhouse Grange’s beaten opponents, Stamford Bridge.

Clifton Alliance travel to Sessay, who made life a little tricky for York last Saturday before succumbing to an 84-run defeat.

The next time Alliance host a fixture, they will have gone a calendar year without a home win after their four-wicket defeat to Sheriff Hutton Bridge on Saturday.

SHB visit fourth-placed Driffield tomorrow with both looking to keep up the pressure at the top.

The East Riding team’s draw last week means they sit two points behind their weekend opponents, but both have enjoyed a complete win this term to remain hot on the tails of reigning champions York.

The Clifton Park outfit sit second in the league, six points shy of Scarborough but having played a game fewer.

York travel to Harrogate tomorrow looking to maintain their 100 per cent start following victories over Yorkshire Academy and Sessay.

Harrogate got their season off the ground last week, bowling out Yorkshire Academy in 44 overs for a 46-run victory.