Moorlands will begin their defence of the Sykes Cup away at Meltham in April as the first round draw threw up its usual mix of compelling ties.
Eddie Walmsley’s side who have retained the flagship trophy for the past two seasons will need to negotiate a challenge from Championship Meltham who enjoyed their own silverware success after taking the T20 Shield in 2022.
Hoylandswaine, who have been denied on both occasions by Moorlands, will entertain Conference team Emley Clarence at Haigh Lane in a draw where all Premiership teams avoided one another.
Thongsbridge and Scholes have considerable banana skins to sidestep by being pitched away to sides relegated from the top division with Thongsbridge away at Golcar and Scholes making the journey over the Pennines to Delph & Dobcross.
Two traditionally big teams but with vastly differing fortunes have been drawn together with Premiership Honley making the journey to Elland who are now in the Conference. A fixture that will invoke nostalgic memories for some.
Moorlands 2XI’s Paddock Shield defence will begin at home with a tough assignment against Barkisland. Delph & Dobcross, who were the losing finalists also have a difficult first round fixture away at Honley and Hoylandswaine who will be the highest ranked 2XI team face Denby Dale 2XI.
All fixtures will take place on Sunday April 30th (12:30pm)
Full Draw
Sykes Cup R1
Cumberworth United v Broad Oak
Almondbury Wesleyan v Shelley
Lascelles Hall v Hall Bower
Delph and Dobcross v Scholes
Clayton West v Kirkburton
Elland v Honley
Meltham v Moorlands
Barkisland v Slaithwaite
Holmfirth v Skelmanthorpe
Armitage Bridge v Rastrick
Shepley v Denby
Hoylandswaine v Emley Clarence
Upperthong v Kirkheaton
Golcar v Thongsbridge
Birkby Rose Hill v Marsden
Mirfield Parish Cavaliers v Linthwaite
Paddock Shield R1
Thongsbridge v Shepley
Denby v Mirfield Parish Cavaliers
Kirkburton v Armitage Bridge
Hall Bower v Clayton West
Marsden v Almondbury Wesleyan
Skelmanthorpe v Cumberworth United
Linthwaite v Golcar
Denby Dale v Hoylandswaine
Broad Oak v Elland
Scholes v Meltham
Edgerton & Dalton v Holmfirth
Honley v Delph and Dobcross
Shelley v Lascelles Hall
Moorlands v Barkisland
Kirkheaton v Birkby Rose Hill
Slaithwaite v Upperthong
