Scott scoops York Vale League’s young player award (From York Press)

Scott Shepherd scoops York Vale League’s young player award

10:14am Wednesday 19th October 2011 in York Vale League By Martin Jarred

SCOTT Shepherd was crowned the Drax Power Ltd Young Player of the Year at the HPH York Vale Cricket League’s annual dinner and presentation evening at the Royal York Hotel.

The teenage all-rounder pipped Woodhouse Grange team-mate Luke Cattle and Stockton & Hopgrove’s Dan Barrett to the prestigious award, presented by Drax Power senior risk analyst Luke Edwards before an audience of 220.

Shepherd, one of a select band of Vale youngsters to have been chosen for the York Joe Lumb XI, enjoyed an outstanding season. He was Grange’s leading wicket-taker with 32 victims coming an at average of only 8.16 which also won him the second division bowling award. His tally included two seven-wicket hauls in July against Heworth and Selby.

He also averaged 42.25 with the bat, scoring 338 runs and struck an unbeaten 106 against Goole Town in the semi-finals of the Prendergast Cup.

Copmanthorpe, who won the division one title for the first time in their history, were presented with their trophy by Robert Woolley, partner in main sponsors, chartered accountants HPH. He also handed over the HPH Cup to North Cave.

North Duffield, who relaid their pitch before the start of the season, won the main Scothern Construction ground award and a cheque for £250. Fulfordgate (£150) were second and Stockton & Hopgrove (£100) third.

Managing director of the firm, Paul Scothern, also presented to Scothern Construction Cup to Hirst Courtney.

The Press sports editor Stuart Martel presented the Mitchell Cup and Prendergast Memorial Trophy to Burn and North Duffield respectively.

York, who also won division four, received the Headley Memorial Cup from league life member Frank Stones.

The MC for the evening was committee member Dave Milburn and the guest speaker was Selby & Ainsty MP Nigel Adams, a former Vale League representative player, who is captain of the Parliamentary XI.

The league’s annual meeting will be on Monday, November 7, at Fulfordgate WMC.

Roll of honour

HPH York Vale Cricket League

Divisional champions, div 1: Copmanthorpe; div 2: Ovington; div 3: Thorpe Willougby; div 4: York; div 5: South Cave & Brantingham.

Cup winners, HPH Cup: North Cave; Scothern Construction Cup: Hirst Courtney; Prendergast Memorial Trophy: North Duffield; Mitchell Cup: Burn; Headley Memorial Cup: York.

Leading batting averages, div 1: Matty Clark (Hemingbrough) 76.10; div 2: Ian Lake (Selby) 62.37; div 3: Trevor Britain (North Duffield) 125.80; div 4: Deepak Selvaraj (York) 56.71; div 5: Simon Franks (South Cave & Brantingham) 72.86.

Leading bowling averages, div 1: Josh Barrett (Stockton & Hopgrove) 9.69; div 2: Scott Shepherd (Woodhouse Grange) 8.16; div 3: Gary Walker (York RI) 8.20; div 4: Kal Ahmed (York) 7.23; div 5: Jake Wild (Thorpe Willoughby II) 6.70.

Les Kirby Trophy (for most runs scored and most wickets taken): Matty Clark (Hemingbrough) 990 runs and John Kitson (Thorp Arch & Boston Spa) 45 wickets.

Harry Smith Wicketkeeping Award: Harry Torn (Drax) 22 dismissals.

Press Performance of the Week winners: Jamie Agnew (Fulfordgate), Josh Barrett (Stockton & Hopgrove), Danny Cameron (York RI), Richard Carden (Hirst Courtney), Matty Clark (Hemingbrough) x 2, Rob Daniel (Woodhouse Grange), Pete Eastwood (Pocklington), Ian Holmes (Bishopthorpe), Brian Howard (Hirst Courtney), Kevin Lund (Selby II), Neil Metcalfe (Ovington), Granville North (Hemingbrough II), John Patrick (North Duffield), Adam Prescott (Burn), Joe Robinson (Thixendale), Matthew Torn (Drax), Jed Vale (Pocklington), Jake Wild (Thorpe Willougby II) x 2, Rory Watson (Bishopthorpe II).