York Cricket Club eyeing sixth successive title (From York Press)

York Cricket Club eyeing sixth successive title

10:10am Thursday 15th September 2011 in Yorkshire League By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter

YORK Cricket Club have already turned their attention to a super six next season.

The Clifton Parkers won an unprecedented fifth successive Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier league title earlier this month, but any thoughts of basking in the achievement have already been put aside by skipper Marcus Wood.

Having already written themselves into league folklore, Wood wants his men to scale new heights and dominate the league once again in 2012.

This season’s vintage saw a number of new players integrate almost seamlessly into the side and, despite the loss of Australian runs machine Dan Wilson following the end of the 2010 campaign, York were still able to notch huge scores.

In Oliver Hairs, an opening batsman for Scotland, the Clifton Parkers bolstered their batting while, with the ball, Dan Woods and Tom Pringle continued to assault the opposition order.

York also had strength in depth with other players to make an important contribution including Ryan McKendry, Andy Tute and Jake Murphy.

Stalwart Duncan Snell finished only four short of 1,000 runs while Liam McKendry, Alex Collins and Nick Kay weighed in with important runs on key occasions and Nigel Durham continued to be a solid presence behind the stumps.

Wood was particularly impressed with his side’s fortitude in the face of set-backs throughout the campaign – Yorkshire Academy beat the Clifton Parkers three times in league and cup – and now has his eye on keeping the trophy at home for yet another year.

“I don’t think it has ever been done in the league,” he said of the fifth straight title success. “I am pleased with the way we have played and the consistency.

“There has been a big effort all year long and, when we have had a few hiccups, we have bounced back. Now we have to be ready for the next one. There was always going to be a couple of players coming and going (at the start of the season) and, particularly for the younger guys in the team, it was good to get them into the field, compete a lot and contribute.”

Wood also stressed the importance of all York’s clubs, regardless of the division they played in, on the set up at Clifton Park.

“The development between junior and senior sections is absolutely key,” he added. “A number of meetings have been set up for all sections of the club to review how things have gone and to start planning now for the coming year.

“Our aim is for a sixth league title. We would like to do a bit better in the cups but that is the plan to aim for.”