JUST in case Skipton were entertaining any misconceptions about the size of the task facing them to survive in Division A of the Airedale & Wharfedale Cricket League after their creditable showing on the opening day, they were given a sharp reminder of the road ahead when they went down by seven wickets at Adel.

The visitors' total of 117 was never going to be enough against the side which finished third in the table last season and so it proved.

With four of their line-up failing to score, Skipton were obviously going to be short of runs, but in-form Andrew Fergie did his best to rescue the situation.

"He batted really well for his unbeaten 29, selecting his shots well rather than hitting out at everything," said skipper Geoff Fryers. "At one stage it looked as though we would struggle to get past 70, but we stuck to the job well and took the game into the final over.

"Chris Keedy, their Australian paceman, produced a really quick spell to give Adel an early edge and they also picked up some good catches to press home that advantage. Kevin Owens fell to a real beauty.

"We went into the game with only two first-team bowlers and although Andrew produced another good spell to keep things under control and take three wickets in the process, we were always up against it.

"On the credit side, Rob Walker did a good job as stand-in wicket-keeper with Andrew Strickland still footballing, while David Whiteley took a tremendous catch to earn three fielding points, which is rare for one piece of action."

Like Skipton, last season's runners-up Steeton have also felt the wind of change blowing through their dressing room. New skipper Alex Howarth looks to have plenty on his plate if his side are to be involved in another title challenge, a seven-wicket defeat at newly-promoted Collingham last weekend hinting at a stiff challenge ahead.

Relegated Silsden, in contrast, got their season moving in Division B with a handsome nine-wicket victory at home to Ilkley. The visitors did a good job in the field to restrict Ilkley to 135, only opener Sant and No 9 Henry reaching double figures.

In reply, Hayden Tennant was an early victim, but then Chris Meehan and David Jackson both reached half centuries in an unbroken stand of 131 which carried Silsden to a comfortable win.

In Division C, Wharfedale had a match-winning performance from Australian paceman Tarkin Brown in their 91-run win at home to Colton. An opening stand of 109 by openers Harrison and Whitfield laid the foundation for the home side's 187-8 total, Brown chipping in with 31.

Brown then set about the Colton batsmen in fine style with a penetrative spell of bowling which brought him an 8-34 return from 15 overs and saw the visitors all out for 96.

There was only time for a brief celebration, however, before the team and the hero were brought back to earn with a resounding thump the following day when they visited Rawdon in the preliminary round of the Waddilove Cup.

There they were on the wrong end of some severe treatment with the bat