SEVEN schools from York and the surrounding area will play in the Drax Cup 2007, the first-ever cricket competition in Yorkshire for children under nine.

Round two matches in the North Area take place between Osbaldwick and Archbishop of York C of E while St Lawrence's C of E School take on Escrick Park.

East Area matches will involve schools from Drax, North Duffield and Barlby.

All fixtures must be played by Wednesday, May 16.

The knock-out competition is sponsored by Drax Power Limited and organised by Yorkshire County Cricket Club in conjunction with Yorkshire Cricket Board and Yorkshire Schools' Cricket Association.

Entries are split into four areas of the region and the Drax Cup 2007 finals will be played prior to a Yorkshire county cricket match at the Headingley Carnegie Stadium in Leeds this summer.

Yorkshire is only the second region in the country to introduce a cricket tournament for this age group and teams must include boys and girls unless from a single sex school.

The sponsorship by Drax Power strengthens the company's links with the game, which began with its Cricket In The Community scheme in May 2006.