OVINGTON face a tricky start in their bid for a hat-trick of HPH Cup successes in the York Vale Cricket League.

The winners of trophy for the last two years will begin their defence at fellow first division side Burn on Saturday, May 20.

It is a repeat of last year’s semi-final which Ovington won comfortably by seven wickets thanks to a century by Tom Cookson. The Knavesmire-based side also did the league double over the villagers last season but Burn managed to finish third in the top flight, not too far behind runners-up Ovington.

Last season’s Scothern Construction Cup winners Thixendale will be in the HPH Cup this time round and will host Thorpe Willoughby.

The Mitchell and Prendergast Memorial plate competitions will be again played as T20 matches and will offer a degree of flexibility should teams wish to play on an evening rather than the scheduled weekend dates.

Clubs are encouraged to attend a cricket roadshow drop-in session at Heworth CC on Tuesday, January 24 from 7.30pm. Vale, Foss Evening and York Senior League officials, as well as the YCB development team, will be on hand to answer cricket queries.

Vale League clubs who have any changes they may wish to make to the club directory pages in last year's handbook and website should send them to chairman Shane Hargrave by Monday, February 13.

Selby CC have appointed Abigail Lund as their new secretary.

Thorp Arch & Boston Spa have withdrawn their third team from the Vale League because of a shortage of players.

Cup draws

HPH Cup, round 1 (to be played on Saturday, May 20): Wheldrake v Westow, Askham Bryan v South Cave and Brantingham, Kelfield v Hirst Courtney, Thixendale v Thorpe Willoughby, Hemingbrough v Clifton Alliance, Burn v Ovington, Stockton & Hopgrove v Ovington II, Melbourne v Ben Johnson. (Second round to be played on Saturday, June 17 and the semi-finals on Sunday, July 9.)

Scothern Construction Cup, round 1 (to be played on Saturday, May 20): Bishopthorpe v Pocklington, Thorpe Willoughby II v Yapham, Tadcaster Magnet v Selby, Malton & Old Malton v Stamford Bridge, Ovington III v Stamford Bridge II, Yapham II v Malton & Old Malton II, Dunnington v Acomb, Fulfordgate v Burn II. (Second round to be played on Saturday, June 17 and the semi-finals on Sunday, July 9.)

Prendergast Memorial/Mitchell T20: preliminary round to be played on or before Sunday, June 11; first round to be played on Saturday, June 17 or on a mutually agreed evening before Friday, July 7; semi-finals to be played on Sunday, July 16 or on a mutually agreed evening before Friday, August 4.