IT’S so close they almost taste it!
Yorkshire Juniors are just one match away from regaining the Drakes Pride British Junior Inter-County Championship – only Warwick and Worcester stand in their way.
And the burgeoning county stars will be determined to go one better than their senior counterparts who lost by 15 points to the same county last Sunday at Crosland Moor.
The juniors were also out in force last Sunday to soak up the big final atmosphere and get a taste of what tomorrow’s showdown may hold.
Tomorrow’s British Junior final gets under way at 2.00 with the home team, managed by Graham Radcliffe, selecting Broad Oak, Linthwaite, while Stuart Hanson’s away team travel to West Bromwich Labour BC.
The two counties have been long-term rivals and Warwick and Worcester got the better of Yorkshire in the group stages last year, playing them early on and catching Yorkshire a bit cold, as Warwick and Worcester went on to win the group.
As group runners-up, however, Yorkshire were put into the Supplementary competition, which they won.
Yorkshire will be determined to reassert their authority on the competition they have dominated for years – winning the championship an unprecedented five consecutive times from 2001 to 2005 and claiming eight titles in total (and have been runners-up four times) since the formation of the championship in 1984.
Home team manager Graham Radcliffe said: “Tomorrow’s match at Broad Oak will be the last game for seven of the home team – Gary Siswick, Adam Booth, Adam Kelk, Daniel Eastwood, Robert Craven, Patrick Carrig and Mark Fletcher.
“So it will be a sad day for me because I have worked with all these boys for a great number of years.”
He added: “But their job is not over yet and there is still some business to do.
“We’re expecting a tough test against Warwick, who we lost to last year, but we are ready for them this time around.
“The players have been up at Broad Oak for three or four weeks to put the time in practising like the seniors do.
“Confidence is high after a strong performance in the semi-finals against Staffordshire at Golcar Lib, so I urge everyone to come out, support and get behind the lads tomorrow.”
