HEMINGBROUGH Cricket Club has declared it will continue to fight its expulsion from the Hunter's York and District Senior League.

Despite withdrawing an injunction against the League to force them to be re-admitted before the start of this season the club are to press ahead with their main claim that the League acted beyond its powers.

The village team is hoping that victory in the High Court will pave the way for them to rejoin the York League in summer 2007 or, alternatively, seek damages.

Hemingbrough withdrew the first part of its claim to be readmitted this year because shortly before the hearing in London the League filed evidence about its ability to reconstitute its fixtures and those of nine other leagues with whom the fixture list dovetails.

One of those leagues is the HPH York Vale League which has admitted Hemingbrough this season. Hemingbrough used to play in the Vale League before being elected to the York League in 2003.

As a result of the potential fixture chaos, Hemingbrough's solicitors advised the club to withdraw its application for an injunction.

The Hemingbrough statement said: "The club would like to make it clear that, notwithstanding the late withdrawal of its application for an injunction, it intends to prosecute the remainder of its claim as vigorously as possible.

"The club's officers have resolved to proceed with the case on principle and to show that the club has the best interests of cricket in this area at heart.

"The club believes - and legal advice has confirmed - that the League has improperly deducted Merit Table points, resulting in the club having to seek re-election to the League when it ought not to have been required so to do."

That matter will now go before the High Court in summer.

The statement added: "The club is delighted with the support it has received from the York Vale League and from that league's member clubs which has enabled the club to field two teams this coming season. Accordingly, the club is able to further its commitment to playing cricket and to developing young players.

"However, as a result of the York League's actions, the club has been unable to offer a higher standard of cricket to its first-team players and many of those players have been forced to play their cricket elsewhere. As a result, the club is deprived of both quality players as well as several qualified coaches.

"The club is proud of its record on the field and of its development of young players.

"In spite of the York League's action, the club will continue to further the development of cricket in the area and will strive for justice."

The York Senior League, whose 2006 season is scheduled to start on April 29, has always maintained it followed the correct procedure in dealing with Hemingbrough and that member clubs voted to terminate Hemingbrough's membership.

Former England spinner Robert Croft will be speaker at the annual York League dinner at York Racecourse on Friday, October 20.

Updated: 09:35 Thursday, March 30, 2006