CHAMPIONS York are aiming to bounce back from an opening day mauling in the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier Cricket League when they tackle a weekend double header.

Appleby Frodingham visit Clifton Park in the league tomorrow before York travel to Whitburn in the ECB National Club Championship on Sunday.

The seven-time champions are still reeling from last weekend’s 127-run home defeat by Yorkshire Academy, one of their worst league results in recent years.

Secretary Nick Kay said: “I don’t remember a day like that in York - not many teams have got 340 against us here.

“The Academy had a very strong side out, with the likes of Azeem Rafiq, Will Rhodes and Matt Fisher, and they would be hard to catch if they put that team out every week.

“They will lose some of those players to Yorkshire and England Under-19s, so we have got to try to stay with them until that happens.”

York will be strengthened by the addition of county fast bowler Ben Coad and spinner Tom Pringle for tomorrow’s game.

Richard Love and veteran wicketkeeper Nigel Durham will drop down to the second team, with Liam McKendry taking the gloves in the firsts.

Kay said: “Appleby Frodingham had a great win against Barnsley last week. They have been together for a few years and it may well be they are starting to blossom.”

Pringle will captain the side at Whitburn on Sunday as skipper Dan Woods is away playing for Cheshire.

Kay added: “They are in the North East Premier League but we know nothing about them or their pitch.

“We set the bar high when we won this competition a couple of years ago and we always look forward to the challenge.”