EXPERIENCED York Cricket Club captain Marcus Wood called it one of the best innings he had ever seen in the Yorkshire League after watching Simon Mason's flawless century against Harrogate.

The reserved nature of cricket means such superlatives are rarely bestowed on individuals but Mason's knock last month was clearly very special and the business marketing student is expected to continue being a crucial player as the Clifton Parkers begin the second half of their Yorkshire League campaign at home to Appleby-Frodingham tomorrow.

York currently lie 15 points clear of nearest rivals Harrogate and Barnsley and hard-hitting Mason, 23, is confident his team-mates can become the first-ever York side to clinch back-to-back Yorkshire League titles.

Said Mason, "I've played in the League for seven years and this season, it's as strong as it's ever been but we are in a good position and we are definitely good enough to stay there.

"We are chasing scores very well with the bat and our bowling has been brilliant. Dan Broadbent has already taken 44 wickets, which is excellent, and Duncan Snell and Nick Thornicroft have also bowled very well.

"In the field, we have dropped a few catches but are holding on to the important ones. There's also a great team sprit and Marcus Wood has done a brilliant job getting everybody involved."

Wood is equally as complimentary about his leading run-scorer.

Former St Aiden's School, Harrogate, pupil Mason has cracked 108 against the Yorkshire Academy, an unbeaten 83 against Sheffield United and a quickfire 94 off 70 balls against tomorrow's opponents.

But it is his 143 not out, littered with 26 boundaries, including two sixes, against old foes Harrogate that thrilled all. Said skipper Wood: "Just about everything he did was brilliant. He didn't have to run very much at all and his shot-making was wonderful.

"He's always had the shots but his shot selection is certainly getting better with age and he's becoming a prolific player."

Mason, who played for Yorkshire from the age of 14 to 21 and captained the county's under-17 team, agrees that he is playing the best cricket since a car crash as a teenager affected his hand-eye co-ordination.

"Instead of getting out in the 60s or 70s, I have managed to convert a few more into bigger scores this year," he said. "I've worked very hard on trying not to throw my wicket away over the last couple of years and the only time I've played as well as I am doing now was in the indoor nets at Headingley when I was 17 just before I got a nasty bang on the head in a car accident.

"I never felt my hand-eye co-ordination would be the same again but it feels like it is now. The innings against Harrogate was definitely up there as the best I have played.

"They are a very good team and matches between the two clubs are always competitive. We were chasing 207 which is a reasonable target but it ended up being my day and was very enjoyable."

Mason topped York's 2004 run charts with 644 but dismissed that return as "another average year" and has set himself a four-figure tally this time around, saying: "My target at the beginning of every year is always 1,000 runs.

"I've not reached it yet but I have got a good opportunity this year. The closest I've ever been was 720 but I'm on 550 now at the half-way point."

Mason travels from Cambridge, where he is studying for his degree, to stay with his parents in Ripon and play for York.

He has also racked up three half-centuries this season for Minor Counties team Lincolnshire, including a 52 against Nottinghamshire in a Twenty20 contest.

Mason feels the popular new format of cricket suits his explosive game but added: "I play my game whatever kind of cricket I am playing. I like to play to my strengths which is to attack."

He is also hopeful his Twenty20 onslaught could lead to further opportunities, saying: "I've definitely not crossed playing first-class cricket off my list.

"I have spoken to Lincolnshire's manager Mark Fell, who's heavily involved with Notts, and I have asked him to put my name forward so we will see what happens."

Updated: 09:58 Friday, July 08, 2005