It’s May-hem as York Cricket Club face opening treble (From York Press)

It’s May-hem as York Cricket Club face opening treble

10:10am Friday 4th May 2012 in Yorkshire League By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter

AFTER an April without any cricket, York Cricket Club are suddenly very busy indeed.

The Clifton Parkers have yet to take to the middle in competitive action, after torrential rain washed out their first two weekends of the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League season, but they face three games this weekend – two of them in the league.

Encounters against Driffield and Scarborough tomorrow and Bank Holiday Monday respectively, both at home, are either side of a trip to Bradford League Woodlands in the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy first round on Sunday.

That Black Sheep trip will see a markedly different York outfit from the one that will go into league action. They will be without skipper Dan Woods and vice-captain Nick Kay as well as Andrew Tute and Tom Pringle.

Glenn Richmond will come in to open the bowling, with other changes including Richard Love and Simon Lambert. Opening batsman Duncan Snell will captain the side.

Otherwise, in the league, York will line up as they would have done had their matches against Sheffield Collegiate and Sheffield United not fallen victim to the weather – with Snell partnered by Liam McKendry and Scotland’s Oliver Hairs coming in at number three.

The visit of Scarborough looks particularly difficult with the North Marine Road outfit likely to be able to call on Yorkshire’s Adam Lyth.

Although former Zimbabwean international bowler Piet Rinke has left the club, they have recruited former Durham and Middlesex player Danny Evans.

Evans took 49 wickets in 19 First Class matches.

And while York have yet to bat or bowl in league anger, Driffield and Scarborough met last week in the only game which beat the weather – the seasiders getting off to winning ways.

Kay fears that the Clifton Parkers may be undercooked, but has backed York to get off to the best possible start.

“April is a pretty slow month when there is no cricket,” he said. “We would hope against Driffield, based on last year’s league table, that if we play well at home tomorrow we really should have too much firepower for them.

“We could be caught cold but we will look to be ready. Scarborough have recruited quite well and we believe Adam Lyth will be playing. Then we go to Woodlands in between on Sunday.

“The only cricket we have played so far is a friendly so it is not ideal to have three matches in one weekend.

“Against Woodlands, it is a great chance for the young lads to show what they can do and everyone will be expecting Woodlands to win.

“To be honest, there is no real pressure on us and we can just go out and enjoy it.”

Meanwhile, New Farnley have conceded their ECB National Club Challenge first round match against York.

The game, due to be staged last weekend, fell victim to the weather and despite attempts by York to find an alternative date, Central Yorkshire League side New Farnley were unable to find a spot in their fixture programme.