CRICKET: York lose out in Yorkshire Premier Leagues Championship semi-final

The Yorkshire Premier League North champions successfully retained their league title last weekend as the highly-anticipated clash at Clifton Park against runners-up Woodhouse Grange was rained off, but they did not have enough in their bowling armoury to prevent their south Yorkshire counterparts reaching their third consecutive final.

Thornes will face Great Ayton, of the North Yorkshire & South Durham League, next Saturday at Headingley.

York won the toss and elected to bat but were dealt a blow when the reliable and dangerous Duncan Snell was dismissed for just two runs, bowled by Josh Shaw (1-28).

Jack Leaning was in good form for York, hitting 54 off 68 balls before he was caught behind off Mahmood Rasool (2-40).

Thornes seemed to be in control of the contest with half the York side out for 136, but Tom Brooks and Toby Giddings' swift partnership of 58 helped York to a respectable 200-7 in their 50 overs.

Skipper Dan Woods (3-39) and Leaning (2-68) kept the run rate down for the fast-starting Thornes, who had James Wolfenden (80) and Jared Warner (29) putting on 97 for the first wicket.

David Toft was run out for 10, and Wolfenden was joined by Matt Jordan. The pair took Thornes to within touching distance of their target before Wolfenden fell LBW to Woods, and Jordan (39 not out) was able to see Thornes home with four wickets and 15 balls to spare.

York skipper Woods said: "It was a good game. We were maybe 20 or 30 runs short from what we would have liked. But then, from a bowling and fielding point of view, we stuck at it really well.

"We had a lot of regular first-team players unavailable so we had a young side out, and I'm really proud of how they fought and scrapped.

"It's disappointing to lose the game but you can't take anything away from the amazing season we've had. To win the league is a huge achievement and being champions is an amazing thing to be."