YORK Cricket Club put their title credentials on the line this weekend with a double-header that could shape their season.

Nigel Durham's side have been the surprise package in the Oxbridge Yorkshire ECB County Premier League this season.

But his emerging team have shown no sign of weakness since hitting the top of the table last month and have now won 11 matches - more than all of last season.

They will be severely tested by a trip to Sheffield Collegiate tomorrow, the South Yorkshire side having been pipped to the title last summer by Harrogate.

Collegiate are 17 points adrift of leaders York, but Richard Kettleborough's squad have a match in hand and are still very much in the race for honours.

York complete their weekend's work with a home game against Hull, who have often proved a bogey side for the Clifton Parkers, on Sunday.

The leaders hold a three-point advantage over Scarborough with Cleethorpes a further two points behind in third place.

York have a slightly tougher programme this weekend whereas Scarborough are at home on both days to struggling Doncaster and lowly-placed Appleby Frodingham.

For their weekend double, York will be without Dan Broadbent, who is their leading wicket-taker with 32 victims. His spin partnership with New Zealander Jeetan Patel (26 wickets) has been a key element in York's success.

Broadbent is captaining the England Under-18 team at a tournament in Holland which is being used as preparation for the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh next January.

Tomorrow, York consider they will miss Broadbent's runs as well as his bowling so batsman Mike Mortimer is included to face Collegiate.

Leg spinner Tom Pringle comes in for Mortimer against Hull on Sunday as York may need extra penetration to dismiss a side third from bottom.

York are a side with no great stars but their young side, which has shown promise in recent seasons, is beginning to mature.

They had a poor finish to last season when they managed just eight points from as many matches, slipping from fourth to ninth at the finish.

This campaign began with a crushing 10-wicket defeat at Scarborough, where Australian ace Clint Heron scored a century for the North Marine Road side.

On May Day Bank Holiday Monday, York lost at Cleethorpes, but since then have embarked on a hot streak, getting the better of the opposition in 11 out of their last 12 Yorkshire League matches. The only game they didn't come out on top was against Yorkshire Academy, which fell foul of the weather.

Last week they had a winning draw against Sheffield United, amassing 262-5, opener Steve Piercy bursting through the 500-run barrier for the summer with a classy 107.

That equalled the century he scored on June 21 in the victory against Doncaster that sent York to the top of the table - a position they have held ever since.

York last won the Yorkshire League title under Andy Greasley's leadership 15 years ago and the current squad is certainly working hard to emulate the class of 1988.

Apart from the spinners, Rob Flack and Greg How have contributed wickets and runs at crucial times, while Marcus Wood and opener Simon Mason have also made vital scores.

Updated: 09:48 Friday, July 18, 2003