State of Play: Yorkshire Premier League North

Welcome to this snapshot of the title challengers and relegation worriers as the season reaches the last third in the Hunters Yorkshire Premier League North.

Enjoy a few observations, league table, stats and averages from lead performers with ball and bat.  

The plan is to shine a light on each of the four Premier Leagues in the coming weeks. 

Yorkshire Premier League North  

(As of Wednesday 24 July 2024)  

1. Clifton Alliance – 130  

2. Castleford – 122  

3. Harrogate – 102  

4. Woodhouse Grange – 84  

5. Sheriff Hutton Bridge – 83  

6. York – 80  

7. Driffield Town – 68  

8. Sessay – 56  

9. Scarborough – 54  

10. Hull Zingari – 53  

11. Stamford Bridge – 40  

12. Easingwold – 36  

With 14 rounds gone, Clifton Alliance have opened up a small lead at the summit but with 10pts for a win and bonus points for losing teams, it’s marginal.  

Llewellyn lynchpin  

In the recent game at the ‘Battle of Clifton Park’, Clifton Alliance won ‘away’ at York by 56 runs after a run-a-ball 85 from Bryn Llewellyn and 98 from Edward Wade set up a punchy total of 283.  

Llewellyn (842 runs and 28 wickets) has been impressive and he made further headlines with 91 not out for Cheshire against Derbyshire as the hosts won by four wickets at Nantwich on 21 July. It was a Clifton Alliance double act as Sam Grant also starred with four wickets.

Consistent Cas 

Castleford, ever consistent, have been one of the top sides in the league for years and victories over York and Harrogate back in June have been part of a long winning streak.  

Keep your eyes peeled on the blockbuster game on Saturday 31 August at Castleford against the league leaders; could have a huge bearing on where the title ends up.  

Brayden Clark (487 runs) and David Wainwright (47 wickets) are the lead performers so far for the 1st XI as Cas aim to replicate the form that won the league in 2023.  

Harrogate, 28pts off first, aren’t out of the hunt yet and in Henry Thompson (526 runs) and Isaac Light (421 runs), they have dependable top-order runs.  

One of the league’s top wicket-takers Ishan Abeysekara (39 wickets) continues to be a huge threat for batters. Jack Shutt’s 23 wickets have helped the St George’s Road outfit to be a spin-dominant attack.  

York not at the races?  

There is plenty of time for places and fortunes to switch but it’s perhaps a surprise to some that York have dropped down the table.  

At times, their top six has been bolstered by Fin Bean and Jonny Tattersall while Will Fraine (342 runs) has fired, albeit with less availability.  

Breidyn Schaper (437 runs) is again a lynchpin while Harry Sullivan (23 wickets @ 18.61) and Dave Brent (20 wickets @ 19.10) have been prominent with the ball.  

Losses to Harrogate and Clifton Alliance will have stung while York have fallen foul of the weather in games they might have expected to win.

Time will tell if the house of York can mount a late challenge – but don’t rule them out. 

IPL’s Singh joins Hull Zingari  

At the other end of the table, Easingwold (36 pts) find themselves bottom with Stamford Bridge (40 pts) in the other relegation spot. Just above them in 10th place, Hull Zingari (53 pts) have bolstered their squad recently with the signing of Mandeep Singh.  

Singh has represented India in three iT20s, with over a hundred IPL games as an explosive top-order batter and settled in at Zingari with 107 off 84 balls in his first game; a 25-run win over Easingwold.

New league sponsor

Meanwhile, the league has announced it is changing headline sponsor for the 2025 season. Hunters Estate Agents end their deal at the end of September, after an association of more than twenty-five years.

Attis Insurance Brokers Ltd will be the new principal league sponsors in an initial three-year deal. Get ready to see Attis ECB Yorkshire Premier League North from October.

Let’s end with a few headliners…  

🏏 Yorkshire Premier League North Batting Averages 

Bryn Llewellyn (Clifton Alliance)  

🏏 842 runs @60.14 (HS of 119)

Alec Drury (Driffield Town)  

🏏 741 runs @ 74.10 (HS of 134 not out)  

Noah Kelly (Driffield Town)  

🏏 614 runs @68.22 (HS of 105)  

Diego Rosier (Sessay) 

🏏 575 runs @71.88 (HS of 120 not out)  

🚀 Yorkshire Premier League North Bowling Averages  

David Wainwright (Castleford)  

🏏 47 wkts @8.91 (BB of 5-30)  

Ishan Abeysekara (Harrogate)  

🏏39 wkts @15.21 (BB of 9-30)  

Sam Grant (Clifton Alliance)  

🏏30 wkts @12.80 (BB of 5-49)  

Bryn Llewellyn (Clifton Alliance) 

🏏28 wkts @22.36 (BB of 4-11)  

Want to read more?  

Here are our articles on the Yorkshire Premier League North including interviews and club visits.