TEENAGER Matt Durkin will pick up the two main batting prizes at the HPH York Vale Cricket League’s annual awards presentation night next month.

The 18-year-old Stockton & Hopgrove strokemaker will receive the Les Kirby Trophy for the highest aggregate of runs and the division one batting averages trophy.

Shortlisted for the Young Player of the Year Award last season, he converted his promise into a catalogue of big scores in clubbing an unbeaten 173 against Burn, a Stockton club record.

He recorded two other top-flight tons – 153 not out against Hirst Courtney and 103 versus Hemingbrough, finishing with 743 league runs at an average of 67.54.

At the other end of the age scale, veteran spinner Granville North will receive the Les Kirby Trophy for bowling after a fantastic haul of 56 wickets in Hemingbrough II’s division four title-winning campaign.

The division one bowling award will go to Ian Holmes of Bishopthorpe, whose 45 wickets came at an average of 8.57.

The lowest bowling average in the league was achieved by Malcolm Harrison of Melbourne.

His 45 wickets came at a cost of a mere 4.95 each as his team romped home to the division three title after winning the Scothern Construction Cup.

Ovington will collect the division one championship for the first time in 15 years. The York-based club have applied to enter a third team, which will play at Millthorpe School, in the Vale League. The application will be considered at the league’s annual general meeting at Fulfordgate Working Men’s Club on Monday, November 11.

The Young Player of the Year, Club of the Year, Hall of Fame entrants and the Cricket Tea of the Year awards will be revealed on the awards night at the Royal York Hotel on Saturday, October 12.

The evening will be hosted by BBC Radio York presenter Adam Tomlinson, who is also secretary of Thorp Arch & Boston Spa, winners of the division five crown.


York Vale League roll of honour

Divisional champions

Division 1: Ovington.

Division 2: Thixendale.

Division 3: Melbourne.

Division 4: Hemingbrough II.

Division 5: Thorp Arch & Boston Spa.


Cup winners

HPH Cup: Bishopthorpe.

Scothern Construction Cup: Melbourne.

Prendergast Memorial Trophy: Stillingfleet.

Mitchell Cup: Hemingbrough.

President’s Cup: Hemingbrough II.

Junior six-a-side: Heworth.


Leading batting averages

Division 1: Matt Durkin (Stockton & Hopgrove) 67.54.

Division 2: Jamie Agnew (Ben Johnson) 54.00.

Division 3: Oliver Steels (Melbourne) 46.11.

Division 4: Rich Horsman (Stockton & Hopgrove II) 50.21.

Division 5: Dave Ryder (Thorp Arch & Boston Spa) 40.66.


Leading bowling averages

Division 1: Ian Holmes (Bishopthorpe) 8.57.

Division 2: Craig Patrick (North Duffield) 11.39.

Division 3: Malcolm Harrison (Melbourne) 4.95.

Division 4: Granville North (Hemingbrough II) 8.30.

Division 5: Andrew Jackson (Thorpe Willoughby II) 10.47.


Les Kirby Trophy
(For most runs scored and most wickets taken)

Matt Durkin (Stockton & Hopgrove) 743 runs.

Granville North (Hemingbrough II) 53 wickets.


Harry Smith wicketkeeping award
Matt Beevers (Melbourne) 16 – 13 catches, three stumpings