HOLDERS York Cricket Club will start their defence of the Yorkshire League Knockout Cup with a quarter-final clash against Barnsley at Clifton Park on Sunday, May 15, 2011.

The two rivals have been given a first round bye, while Scarborough will host Rotherham Town and Harrogate take on Doncaster Town at St George’s Road in round one.

York trounced Castleford by 242 runs in last season’s final at Clifton Park.

York’s quest for a record fifth successive Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League crown will begin with a trip to Driffield on Saturday, April 23.

Meanwhile, scorer David Seaman has retired after ten years with the Clifton Park outfit and he will be replaced by Kevin Hutchinson.

Hutchinson was honorary match secretary of the Wetherby Cricket League and first-team scorer for Thorner.