YORK youngsters are bidding to be crowned the country’s leading under-15s cricket team.

The Clifton Parkers will line up at the finals day for the NatWest U15s National Club Championship at Oundle School in Peterborough on Monday.

They will be up against Southill Park, of Bedfordshire, Dorset’s Parley and Guildford, from Surrey.

Coach Mick Hammerton said: “Much hard work has been put in by all the lads and they deserve all the praise and credit for their success.

“This is the furthest any York side has got in this competition and the lads are keen to continue with the winning habit.

“We know they are all good sides but we aim to give it our best shot on the day and come back to Yorkshire with the trophy.”

York qualified from the Yorkshire regional finals day, beating Sutton-on- Hull in the semi-final and then Hallam in the final.

A 26-run victory at Keswick put them into the northern semi-finals, where they beat Clitheroe by 34 runs. In the final, York were 86-run winners over Plumtree.

Hammerton said: “It was an exceptional team performance by all concerned. We have had many line up changes for earlier rounds, which is a testament to the strength of junior cricket and coaching at York.”

The team were crowned York & District junior league champions after winning all their matches in the league and play-offs, while they also reached the semi-finals of the league cup.