Woodlands’ hopes of winning the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy for the third time in four seasons ended in disappointment.

The Bradford League side went down by four wickets to Yorkshire League champions York in the delayed 2009 final and they could have few complaints.

From the moment Marcus Wood won the toss for York, his team dominated the game.

Opening bowlers Peter Groves (3-29) and Tom Bartram (2-30) gained early movement from the East Bierley pitch and Woodlands were soon in trouble.

Woodlands’ top-order batsmen were guilty of giving away their wickets with a succession of careless shots, before left-arm spinner Daniel Woods (2-21) mopped up the tail.

Only skipper Chris Brice, leading the side in the absence of Pieter Swanepoel, showed the required application with an unbeaten 39 as Woodlands posted a total of 141 in an innings that was shortened by six overs when rain halted play.

It was to Woodlands’ credit that they made York fight for their runs, particularly as their bowling attack was further depleted when Sam Frankland damaged a hamstring after just one over.

Sarfraz Ahmed, Brice and Richard Spittlehouse picked up two wickets apiece but Simon Mason hit a six and seven fours as he made a match-winning 52 for York.

A second rain break with just nine runs needed merely delayed the inevitable, with former Cleckheaton leg spinner Tom Pringle hitting the winning boundary.