Champions Pudsey Congs sent out a chilling warning to their rivals that they are in no mood to surrender their crown as they opened the Bradford League's Centenary Season with an emphatic ten-wicket win over Cleckheaton.

Despite being without their star pace man Naveed Rana-Ul-Hassan, they still managed to skittle out their rivals for just 80 in 37 overs with Mark Bray (6-33) and Neil Gill (4-47) wreaking havoc.

They made it a thoroughly miserable afternoon for Cleckheaton's new skipper Ian Austin by knocking off the runs without losing a wicket. Debut-making opener Paul Carroll led the way with an unbeaten 40.

If Congs continue in this vein it will be a brave man who bets against them winning a fourth successive title.

The highest scoring game of the day was at East Bierley where the home side, boosted by an unbeaten 105 by new signing Tabissum Bhatti, overhauled newly-promoted Gomersal's total of 260 for nine to win by four wickets. Bhatti struck 14 fours.

East Bierley squeezed home with eight balls to spare which must have been a disappointment to Gomersal skipper Bradley Parker who had hit two sixes and 20 fours in a 64-ball century. He was finally dismissed for 106 after sharing a third-wicket stand of 155 with opener Steve Pollard (62).

There was also a thrilling finish at Spen Lane where Spen Victoria defeated Hanging Heaton by eight runs. Debut-making left-arm spinner Gareth Davis turned the game in the home side's favour with a spell of five for 32.

Hanging Heaton had looked well set for victory until the impressive Ishmail Dawood was bowled by Davis for 75. From 141 for five they subsided to 173 all out.

Chris Tolley had earlier marked his debut for Hanging Heaton by taking four for 27 as Spen also faltered after a good innings of 45 from Scott Cunningham.

Pudsey St Lawrence may not have an overseas player but they were still too good for a much-strengthened Woodlands side by six wickets.

Off spinner Andrew Doidge took five for 31 as Woodlands were dismissed for 173. New boy Alex Stead (39no) and James Smith (39) top scored as St Lawrence eased home with 22 balls to spare.

Philip Slater responded to the challenge of opening both the batting and the bowling as Baildon defeated Farsley by six wickets.

Slater took three for 41 as he and Mushtaq Ahmed (4-44) worked hard to dismiss Farsley for 165 despite a defiant 63 from new boy Ian Philliskirk from Yeadon.

Slater followed up with 39 as he and Matthew Duce (41) made the main contributions as Baildon raced to their victory target in 32.3 overs to secure a win for new skipper Simon Davis.

New boys Mirfield marked their Division One bow in the best possible style. They defeated Idle by 40 runs and the two men they have to thank are overseas star Mohammed Asif and Neil Parkinson.

Mirfield were in desperate trouble at 73 for six but Asif repaired the damage with a fine innings of 72 which saw his side to a respectable score of 168 for eight. Parkinson then took centre stage and claimed seven for 49 - the day's best bowling figures - as Idle were dismissed for 128.

The only draw in Division One came at Yeadon where the home side finished on 163 for six in reply to an Undercliffe total of 253 for four which included half-centuries for Andy Walker (68no), new signing Mark Gill (57) and skipper Martin Kelleway (58).

Esholt's new overseas batsman Viveck Mahajan announced his arrival with an unbeaten century as they defeated Brighouse by five wickets in Division Two.

New skipper Richard Whitehurst made 79 as they overhauled a Brighouse score of 236 for seven, which included 82 from Jamie Marchant and 58 from David Boulton.

Drighlington's Baz King was another centurion. His 107 steered his side to an eight-wicket success at Hartshead Moor.

Keighley were dismissed for 52 - the day's lowest score - as they went down by 94 runs against Lightcliffe.

Opener Micky Hutchins hit a half-century to guide Bankfoot to a four-wicket win at Bowling Old Lane while Chris Smith took four for 22 to help Morley secure a 32 run win over Manningham Mills.

Windhill had only ten men for their game at Saltaire and were dismissed for 57. Tahir Mahmood took five for 29 for Saltaire.