SPIN doctors Dan Broadbent and Reilly O'Neill hope they have the winning prescription for York Cricket Club this season.

Slow bowlers Broadbent and overseas player Jeetan Patel almost spun the Clifton Park outfit to the Yorkshire League title last season with a haul of 91 wickets.

Patel has not returned to York but this season it will be a similar formula with 22-year-old Aussie right-arm off-spinner O'Neill filling the void.

O'Neill is fresh from Brisbane, where he has been playing first-grade Queenland Cricket Association matches with East Redlands, and he promises to provide a big threat with England Under-19 player Broadbent.

O'Neill is also earmarked to bat in the middle order, so could prove a shrewd acquisition for York, who have lost Tom Pringle to Bradford League side Gomersal.

Another absentee will be paceman Dave Catlow, the RAF man now being stationed at Bath.

York will be led this season by batsman Marcus Wood, who has taken over as skipper from wicketkeeper Nigel Durham. Wood should have recovered from a bad back to skipper his team in tomorrow's opening game against Barnsley at Clifton Park (noon start).

There have been major changes at Harrogate.

Former Leicestershire batsman-slow bowler Peter Hep-worth has joined Barnsley, ex-skipper Mike Stamford has also left the club and bowler Chris Guest is now at Wolverhamp-ton.

The St George's Road side have recruited South African Charles Crawley, who will be based at Wetherby, Army all-rounder Richard Parker and left arm spinner Nick White, who had a productive season with Cleethorpes a couple of years ago.

Pannal seamer James Codling will be looking to partner the dangerous Dave Pennant in attack.

Harrogate will be skippered by 24-year-old John Inglis, who will open the batting with former York player Alexis Twigg, while Vic Craven will also turn out for the club when he is not required by Yorkshire.

Another ex-York player, Damon Gormley, has left Scarborough to take over as captain at Bradford League club Yeadon.

However, the Seasiders have been boosted by news that prolific batsman Clint Heron will be back as their overseas player.

Driffield have seen one of the most unusual switches with batsman Ian Winterbottom joining Ben Rhydding and his brother Andrew making the return journey.

Free-scoring Andy Inns will be hoping to transfer his form from York and District Senior League side Pocklington.

Driffield will also be monitoring the progress of 17-year-old spinner Simon Tennant, who has joined the Yorkshire Academy.

York 1st XI (v Barnsley): Wood, Flack, Mason, N Kay, O'Neill, Broadbent, Snell, How, Durham, Carroll. Start noon. Meet Clifton Park 11am. Scorer: R Wade.

York 2nd XI (at Woodhouse Grange): A Kay, M Grady, Mortimer, Warne, Gregory, O'Donovan, J Pringle, Sacks, Davies, Gorman, Hamlin. Start 1pm. Meet Clifton Park 11am. Scorer: D Seaman.

York 3rd XI (v Cawood): Mendham, Jones, A Hall, Mackfall, S Hall, Gilmore, Ledgeway, Blackwell, Lonsdale, Horner, Wilks. Start 1.30pm. Meet 12.45pm. Scorer: G Billingham. Umpire: C Houseman.

York 4th XI (at Drax): Copeland, D Murray, P Hulse, Mitra, A Murray, Hobson, J Hulse, L Wilson, Feetenby, M Boyle, Allison. Start 1.30pm. Meet Clifton Park noon.

Updated: 10:51 Friday, April 23, 2004