PRIMARY school pupils will get a chance to play at Headingley this summer following the launch of a new cricket competition for Under Nines.

Backed by Drax Power and run in conjunction with the county club, the Yorkshire Cricket Board and the Yorkshire Schools' Cricket Association, it's only the second tournament for this age group in the country.

The inaugural Drax Cup is open to both boys and girls, with matches (using a softball and Kwik Cricket bats and stumps) to be played on a knockout basis and split into North, South, East and West.

The winners from each section go into semi-finals and final to be played before a Yorkshire match at Headingley.

More than 2,000 schools in the county will be provided with entry forms - the closing date is March 16 - and Yorkshire CCC chief executive Stewart Regan said: "Encouraging youngsters to play cricket is essential for the long-term future and success of the game.

"Children at the age of seven and eight are starting to form their first real opinions about which sport to follow."