Harrogate avoid the drop

 Posted by Tony Hutton

Last Saturday 4th September saw the last round of this season's Yorkshire Premier League North fixtures. With the championship already decided, with Castleford worthy winners, the only issue at stake was which of the three teams at the bottom would be relegated. As previously mentioned the withdrawal of the Yorkshire Academy side has affected the league table somewhat, now decided on average points per game and only one team, instead of the usual two, would be relegated.

We were at Clifton Park, York to see if visitors Harrogate could clinch victory to avoid the drop, whereas it was all to play for at Driffield who faced relegation rivals Stamford Bridge in what could prove to be the decisive result. York batted first and their rather inconsistent season was illustrated by the early loss of openers Lambert and Snell both of whom are capable of high scores. Skipper Ryan McKendry, who missed much of the season due to injury, played a valuable innings of 68 and his partnership of 62 with Alex Collins seemed to have turned the game back York's way.

However Harrogate's concentration on a four man spin attack eventually paid dividends when Ishan Abeysekara continued his good form with four wickets to confirm his position as the League's leading wicket taker and also passing the fifty wicket mark for the season in the process. Ben Moss again chipped in with two valuable wickets as the tail rather disintegrated and York were all out during the final over for a rather below par 208.

It still looked a daunting challenge for the visitors with news that the game at Driffield looked like being a close contest, which meant that bonus points might enter the equation if Harrogate lost. However it turned out that the result was never in doubt, even though opener Isaac Light had to retire hurt. He did not need to return until the first wicket fell which was some considerable time later after Henry Thompson and skipper William Bates had taken the total to 183-1 when Thompson was out for 69. Bates played a true captain's innings of 90 not out, obviously deserving a century, which took his side to safety and all thoughts of relegation removed.. Light happily restored to action was 30 not out at the end. An amazing nine wicket victory for Harrogate.

Harrogate celebrate avoiding relegation at York.

Meanwhile away across the Wolds things were hotting up after Driffield's excellent innings of 260 all out, again in the final over. Rhys Crowe excelled himself for Stamford Bridge with 7-53, which must be one of the best bowling performances of the season. Skipper Sam Drury did well with 62 but Randeera Ranasingha played the inning of the day with a rapid 65, including three fours and five sixes. Nick Hardgrave also joined in the fun with a rapid 51.

Stamford Bridge were kept in the chase by their top order with 64 from Martin Woodliffe , 58 from the consistent Jack Timby and 41 from Salman Syed. After that Sam Drury proved his all round worth with four wickets which destroyed the middle order. So with two wickets each from Anson, Hardgrave and Ranasingha the visitors were all out for 248 in the 47th over, just an unlucky thirteen short of victory.

So relegation for Stamford Bridge and the battle to replace them continues next Saturday in the York Senior League Premier Division when another round of fixtures should decide which of Beverley Town or Sessay will replace them.