CHAMPIONS York Cricket Club are content to play catch-up in their attempt to secure a hat-trick of Oxbridge Yorkshire ECB County Premier League titles.

The Clifton Park club will be looking to close a ten point gap between themselves and leaders Yorkshire Academy when they host Appleby Frodingham tomorrow (noon).

Nick Kay, secretary and all-rounder, said the challenge was one they were familiar with.

He said: “Yorkshire Academy and Cleethorpes are going well but we have been in this position for the last five years and we’ve won the title in three of those years.

“We were a long way behind Barnsley at the start of last season and won it.

“To be ten points behind at this stage is no reason to start panicking.”

York suffered their first defeat of the campaign at Rotherham last weekend and Kay said: “The sign of a good team is how you respond to defeat.

“We can’t worry about last weekend. We didn’t do a lot wrong.

“We are confident and we are playing good cricket.”

York are without opener Duncan Snell and spinner Daniel Woods, so Richard Love keeps his place in the side and Andy Kay comes in.

Meanwhile, York progressed to the second round of the National Knockout Cup on the toss of a coin.

The first round tie at North Leeds was abandoned due to rain last Sunday and the hosts were unable to play this weekend.

After winning the coin toss at Lord’s York will travel to Derbyshire Premier League champions Chesterfield in round two on Sunday, May 24.