The Hunters Estate Agent York and District Senior League failed in their bid to retain the Yorkshire Inter-League Knock-Out Trophy when they suffered a 13-run defeat to the Halifax League at Copley Cricket Club in a reversal of last season's final.

The home side were keen to avenge last year's defeat on the same ground and batted first, reaching 40 before their opener Newbitt was run out for 16.

His partner, Ali, soon followed for 26, falling to a Paul Miles stumping off the bowling of Simon Dwyer.

But Haider and Robinson kept Halifax on course for a good score on a small ground. They had moved to 100 when Steve Burdett removed Robinson for 27 only for a further 41 runs to be added until Burdett sent back Haider who had made 51 off 49 balls.

Two more Halifax batsmen then combined to thwart the York bowlers with P Gledhill making 43 before becoming the first of two quick wickets for James Postill.

Dalby made 39 before he was dismissed by Harwood Williams, but the real sting in the tail was provided by Rogers. He rattled an unbeaten 38 in just 15 deliveries, hitting five sixes as Halifax added 42 runs in the final three overs.

York's opening pair of Chris Warters (Ripon) and Andy Tute (Acomb) posted a half-century opening stand before Tute was bowled for 23 at 54-1.

Warters had moved to 36 when he was dismissed but Harwood Williams then saw a procession of partners fail to make any impression as Goulden, who took 4-23 in a decisive ten-over spell, ripped the heart out of the York batting line-up. He was instrumental in sending York from 122-3 to 125-6 before Williams found a temporary ally in Steve Burdett who made 13 in a brief flurry before falling at 150-7.

Williams was then joined by fellow Dunnington player Paul Miles who lifted York's hopes with a typically aggressive innings.

He raced to 55 off just 29 deliveries in 41 minutes and the pair moved the score to 234 before firstly Miles fell to Haider and, without addition, Williams was bowled by Ali after playing a fine sheet-anchor innings of 60.

Craig Shipton, who a week earlier had played a crucial role in the York side's win in the Leeds Area Council Knockout Final was then left with an almost impossible task of scoring 16 off the final over.

He was eventually caught off the fourth delivery as York's fight-back failed by 13 runs.

Updated: 12:11 Friday, September 13, 2002