Elland made a perfect start to their Conference campaign by dispatching Hoylandswaine 2XI with Hall Bower managing a nail-biter at home to Linthwaite. Almondbury got off on the right foot as they overcame Kirkburton 2XI and newly promoted Armitage Bridge 2XI kept out Delph & Dobcross 2XI in the Alliance.
Elland opener Oliver Brook’s 38 was crucial as they outmuscled Hoylandswaine 2XI at Hullen Edge. The home side’s 135ao was more than enough as Swaine seconds were cut short on 110ao with Greg Alexander taking 4-24.
Darrell Sykes (above) took 3-43 on his long-awaited return to Bower from Moorlands as his team nicked a result at home to Linthwaite who pushed them hard. Tom Baxter claimed 3-39 as the visitors were restricted to 145-9.
Emley Clarence saw off Cumberworth thanks to opening batsman Jacob Bonner’s splendid 89. Captain Jamie Hopper’s 4-37 stymied Cumberworth’s response. Upperthong’s Vinnie Jayasuria (3-30) had a pleasing debut as his new side ran out comfortable winners at Mirfield. He went on to score 29 in the reply as the visitors cruised home by seven wickets.
In the Alliance, Almondbury’s South African skipper Bernard Snyman supremely led them to a comfortable win away at Kirkburton 2XI. Snyman hammered 81 in the visitors’ meaty 203-7 total. He then went on to dismantle the hosts with the ball with 6-20 as Kirkburton were dismissed for 98.
Armitage Bridge started their new Alliance campaign with a measured victory at home to Delph, just as they measured their promotion back to the fourth tier last term. Callum Sykes hit a rapid 51 for off-colour Delph who were harried by Wayne Swift (3-38) and Sam Atkin (3-7) in their 135ao. Experienced leader Paul Hamer underpinned their chase with a diligent 34no as they replied with 136-7.
In the only other Alliance match, Skelmanthorpe made heavy weather of seeing off Golcar but talented youngster Rory Hobson’s 4-24 proved the difference in chasing Golcar’s 101-9. Ryan Robinson showed his quality with a studious 22 as they overhauled with 105-7.
Matthew Woodhams scored the only century of the day; quite some feat given the batting conditions around the grounds. The former Lascelles Hall product fired Emley Clarence seconds to victory in Alliance Four away at Holmbridge 2XI with 106 from 90 balls in a 102-run success.
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