Yorkshire ECB Premier Divisions: Our halfway review of 2025

With the 2025 season at or approaching its halfway mark, the leaders of Yorkshire’s five ECB Premier Divisions are Castleford, New Farnley, Rastrick, Richmondshire, and Wakefield Thornes.

Ten rounds into the Huddersfield Premier League’s first season with ECB Premier League status, Rastrick have a two-point lead over Hoylandswaine.

Rastrick, who boast an impressive player budget this year, have won eight and tied one (at home to Kirkburton) of their league fixtures. Their only defeat, on May 17, was at Shepley, by five wickets.

Rastrick host Hoylandswaine, at Round Hill, on August 30 (12.30). On June 14, Rastrick won, by 63 runs, at Hoylandswaine.

Hoylandswaine’s league record shows nine wins and one defeat but they have suffered a four-point penalty deduction.

Having topped the second tier last year, 22 points ahead of runners-up Thongsbridge, ambitious Rastrick are eyeing back-to-back titles.

Golcar, second tier champions in 2023, are third, 11 points behind Rastrick.

By contrast, Mirfield-based Moorlands, top-flight champions in 2023 and 2024, are down in 10th place, four points above a relegation zone occupied by Skelmanthorpe (11th) and Thongsbridge (12th). The latter are six points from safety.

Slaithwaite head the second tier Championship, by four points, from Mirfield Parish Cavaliers and Armitage Bridge, both of whom are level on 46.

The Huddersfield Premier League’s Sykes Cup, trimmed to 16 participants this season, has reached its semi-final stage. The July 13 ties (12.30) are Honley versus Barkisland and Shelley (the sole Championship survivor) versus Scholes.

Having won nine and lost two of their 11 games, Wakefield Thornes, 2024 Premier Division runners-up, are eight points clear in the Yorkshire Cricket Southern Premier League.

Sheffield Collegiate are second, with Whitley Hall third. Each have 100 points.

On May 3, in a low-scoring encounter, Thornes beat visiting Collegiate by eight wickets. Thornes followed that, on June 7, with a four-wicket win at Whitley Hall.

Wakefield Thornes go to Sheffield Collegiate on July 19 (12.0) then receive Whitley Hall on August 23 (12.0). Whitley Hall host Collegiate on July 26 (12.0).

At the bottom, Shiregreen (11th) and Hallam (12th) are well adrift of safety. Hallam were promoted last season, as runners-up to Wickersley Old Village.

With Doncaster Town Seconds, leaders by six points of the second tier Championship, ineligible for promotion, Sprotbrough, second, and Whiston Parish Church, third, a further two points back, are the clubs likeliest to come up.

On July 6 (12.30), Sprotbrough are at Ackworth in a quarter-final of the Yorkshire Cricket Southern Premier League’s Whitworth Cup while, in the same competition, Whiston Parish Church host Sheffield Collegiate Seconds.

Just two points separate defending champions Richmondshire and Marton, fifth in 2024, at the top of the North Yorkshire & South Durham Premier League’s Premier Division.

In a crunch fixture, on July 5 (1.0), Marton entertain Richmondshire, at The Parkway. On April 19, Marton won, by eight wickets, at Richmondshire.

Battling to avoid demotion are Great Ayton (11th) and Norton (12th). Norton look doomed while Ayton are 23 points adrift of 10th-placed Bishop Auckland.

Norton, as champions, and runners-up Great Ayton were promoted from the second-tier Championship last year.

On July 6 (1.30), Great Ayton host holders Barnard Castle in a semi-final of the North Yorkshire & South Durham Premier League’s Kerridge Cup. Stokesley await the winner.

Marske are vying to secure promotion from Division One. 

The Seasiders are 14 points behind leaders Darlington, relegated last season, and six ahead of Billingham Synthonia, third.

New Farnley will take some catching in the Bradford Premier League.

After 11 rounds of the league’s Premier Division season, the undefeated west Leeds side are 41 points ahead of second-placed Woodlands.

New Farnley have won 10 times, including a seven-wicket home success over Kiwi Brad Schmulian’s Woodlands on May 10. Their other fixture, at home to Farsley on May 26, was abandoned.

Woodlands entertain New Farnley, at Albert Terrace, on July 19 (12.0).

New Farnley, buoyed by the form of overseas Abhay Negi, an Indian all-rounder, are through to the July 13 (1.0) semi-finals of the Bradford Premier League’s Priestley Cup, and will visit Premier Division rivals Pudsey St Lawrence.

In the other tie, also an all-Premier Division affair, Townville host Carlton.

At the foot of the table, Baildon (11th) and Undercliffe (12th), just one win apiece, look relegation certainties. Baildon were 2024’s Division One runners-up.

Pudsey Congs, 14 points ahead, and Morley occupy Division One’s promotion positions, comfortably clear of Crossflatts and Bankfoot, 15 and 27 points back respectively.

Nine wins from 10 games have propelled Castleford to a six-point lead, over Sheriff Hutton Bridge, in the Premier Division of the Yorkshire Premier League North.

Castleford were runners-up last year, 20 points behind York-based Clifton Alliance. Cas, the 2023 champions, visit Sheriff Hutton Bridge’s Moor Farm on August 16 (12.0).

On May 31, Castleford beat Sheriff Hutton Bridge, albeit by just three runs. 

Sessay have a fight on their hands to beat the drop in a division reduced to 11 clubs by cash-strapped Scarborough’s late decision to pull out.

Having won one from 10, Sessay are 18 points adrift of Clifton Alliance, 10th.

Easingwold, who went down in 2024, lead the new Premier League Division Two, by 10 points from Woodhouse Grange Seconds, who are ineligible for promotion.

Carlton Towers are third, four points back, with Stamford Bridge, fourth, also relegated last year, a further four behind.

Through to the semi-finals of the K3 Dental-sponsored Yorkshire Leagues Knockout Cup are Doncaster Town, Wakefield Thornes and Woodhouse Grange. The York-Castleford quarter-final will be played on a date to be confirmed.

York are Yorkshire’s last representative in the ECB National Club Championship.

In the Round of 16, on July 6 (1.0), the Clifton Parkers, third in the Yorkshire Premier League North’s top-flight, trailing Castleford by 22 points, travel to Gosforth-based South Northumberland, third in the North East Premier League’s Premier Division.

Most of the Heavy Woollen Cup’s round two ties are scheduled for July 6 (1.0). Those involving Premier Division clubs include Carlton versus Birstall, Honley versus Methley, New Farnley versus Almondbury Wesleyan, Shepley versus Wakefield Thornes, Townville versus Rastrick and Woodlands versus Cawthorne. 

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