OVINGTON’S Charlie Buckley has been crowned the HPH York Vale Cricket League Young Player of the Year.

The 16–year-old received the honour at the league’s annual awards evening at the Regen Centre, Riccall.

The leg-spinner was a runner-up last season when playing in Ovington’s support teams but graduated to become a first team regular this season.

Buckley claimed 16 wickets for 207 runs at an average of just under 13 including two five-wicket hauls, one against Wheldrake (5-35) and the other (5-22) against South Cave & Brantingham in the HPH Cup.

The joint runners-up were Jack Bagshaw (Stamford Bridge) and Jack Heartshorne (Clifton Alliance).

The award was sponsored for the first time by York-based Gem Construction.

At the other end of the age scale, veterans Nigel Collinson (Stockton & Hopgrove) and Will Knight (Askham Bryan) were inducted into the league’s Hall of Fame.

Collinson made his debut for Stockton & Hopgrove in 1963 at the age of ten. The all-rounder captained the team to the division one title in 1990 and in a career that spanned 52 years took more than 2,500 wickets.

Knight, one of the league’s most prolific batsmen, made his senior debut for Askham Bryan in 1970 as a 15-year-old. He topped the league batting averages in 1982. One of his proudest moments was hitting 50 in a century partnership with son David against Copmanthorpe in 2009. It proved to be his penultimate game before injuries forced his retirement.

Askham Bryan won the Scothern Construction Club of the Year award which was presented to club chairman Mark Grewer by Yorkshire CCC archivist Ron Deaton.

It capped a brilliant comeback by a club whose future looked bleak a few seasons ago. They were relegated from division one in 2013 and worse was to follow. Their second team folded the following season and they were given just a few weeks notice to quit their ground of 49 years at Askham Bryan College.

The club’s membership of the league, which they joined in 1954, was hanging by a thread. Its committee and players rallied, a new ground was found, a successful recruitment campaign launched, a two-year sponsorship deal with estate agents Carter Jonas was signed, and the feelgood factor was completed by winning the division two title this summer.

The main divisional, cup and individual awards were presented by Charles Walker, a partner with the league’s main sponsor, HPH.

The Tea of the Year, featuring a new teapot trophy, was awarded to Melbourne whose Ruth Steels won it for the third year running.

She is also secretary of the Foss Evening League whose awards were also handed out on the night by league chairman Mike Wellock.