Sykes Cup holders Delph & Dobcross go into the new campaign with a slightly new look side and will begin their defence of the 99-year old trophy with a home match. Preliminary round winners between Conference champions Denby and Holmbridge from Championship Two will make the trip across the Pennines to Delph who themselves will be under new captaincy after Andrew Gleave’s three year tenure in charge of the team.
2018 Sykes Cup Winners Delph & Dobcross (above)
Runners up last season, Shepley, will experience a sense of déjà vu after being handed an away tie once again at record holders Elland, winners of the Sykes Cup on 14 occasions. They met at the second round stage last season on Shepley’s route to the final.
Honley will fancy a crack at silverware last season after steadily building in recent campaigns. Timmy Taylor’s entertaining side have a home test against Championship Slaithwaite as they bid to win the cup for the first time in twelve years during their mid-noughties domination. Another team dominating in recent years are Hoylandswaine and they also face Championship opposition as they head to Lascelles Hall.
A couple of all-Premiership encounters will wet the appetite come May. Championship title winners last season Barkisland face off away at Shelley in an encounter that’s sure to be well-matched. Another fairly even contest on paper is at Armitage Bridge who will host 2017 winners Scholes.
The preliminary ties are scheduled for Sunday 21 April with the first round matches getting underway on Sunday 5 May.
Sykes Cup Preliminary Round
Denby v Holmbridge
Hall Bower v Thurstonland
Upperthong v Kirkheaton
Nortonthorpe v Emley
Cumberworth United v Marsden
Mirfield v Almondbury
Denby Dale v Linthwaite
Birkby Rose Hill v Meltham
Flockton v Cartworth Moor
Lepton Highlanders v Edgerton & Dalton
Sykes Cup First Round
Lascelles Hall v Hoylandswaine
Delph & Dobcross v Denby or Holmbridge
Holmfirth v Kirkburton
Almondbury Wesleyans v Mirfield Parish Cavaliers
Shelley v Barkisland
Elland v Shepley
Clayton West v Hall Bower or Thurstonland
Upperthong or Kirkheaton v Moorlands
Rastrick v Nortonthorpe or Emley Clarence
Broad Oak v Cumberworth United or Marsden
Mirfield or Almondbury v Denby Dale or Linthwaite
Honley v Slaithwaite
Birkby Rose Hill or Meltham v Thongsbridge
Golcar v Flockton or Cartworth Moor
Skelmanthorpe v Lepton or Edgerton & Dalton
Armitage Bridge v Scholes
