A DISAPPOINTING season ended in demotion from division one for the York & District Joe Lumb Under-17s cricket team.

A series of withdrawals forced organisers to concede their closing match against Bradford.

Joe Lumb secretary Derek Lancaster said: “York will be relegated after an indifferent season.

“The culmination was a concession to Bradford when York could not find any suitable replacements for players who had been selected for the game but pulled out days before, leaving no choice but to concede.

“Never in the history of York Joe Lumb has this action ever been taken and the committee and team manager are bitterly disappointed.”

Their last outing of the season was a defeat by reigning champions Huddersfield, who qualified for this year’s final as they sought to defend their trophy.

York batted after winning the toss and made a solid start as Richard Brown and Toby Pratt put on 84 in 17 overs. Brown was out for 45 but Pratt went on to make 129 not out.

He shared a stand of 195 with Jacob Green, who made 89 to help York to a competitive 279.

Huddersfield claimed victory with three overs to spare, despite 15-year-old Tom Spearman taking three wickets on his debut.

Earlier in division one, York lost to North Yorkshire/South Durham in a low-scoring game at Stillington.

York, put in to bat on a lively track, lost wickets on a regular basis and only Felix Adams, with 44, offered any resistance as they fell to 110 all out.

Their opponents were made to fight all the way but got over the line in the 37th over, Andrew Brewster and Adams took two wickets each.

York ended up 45 runs short in a run chase against Airedale & Wharfedale, who won the toss and scored 236-5 from 50 overs. Andrew Wilson claimed 4-39 and Jacob Green 1-39.

York made a good start with a stand of 82 before Pratt was out for 35. Sam Beales hit 84, but York lost their last three wickets for five runs to be all out for 192.