Oakworth missed the chance to get their season off to a flying start when their first match of the season fell victim to the Foot and Mouth crisis.

They faced a tough confrontation with last season's champion's Thornton but the Craven club has been asked not to play on their Booth Bridge Lane ground and were not able to make alternative arrangements.

Two other games had to be cancelled because of the crisis and they will be treated as 'no result' games with each side getting one point.

It seemed that the season also came too soon for other clubs who had to put scratch sides which resulted in some low scores. Terrible weather in the build up to the season had also meant that groundsmen had been unable to prepare good wickets, giving the bowlers a big advantage.

Haworth travelled to last year's runners up, Embsay. the home club lost two quick wickets before some enterprising play by Bob Bateman (74) and Jason Waddington put on 135 in only 20 overs for the third wicket. John Hillary with 49 helped the later order take the score to 251-7.

The Bronte side reached 42 before their second wicket fell. Six more wickets went as the score struggled to 46. Late resistance by Derek Bright and Alex Austerbury took the score to 92 when the innings closed. Stephen Speak opened the season with 6-23 in 15 overs.

Bradley also plundered over 200 making 203-4 at home to Long Lee. Neil Robinson led the way with 80, assisted by M Milbourne with 61. The Keighley side were dismissed for 100.

Carleton, shorn of many of last season's first teamers were brushed aside by Skipton CI at Ramper Park. They were shot out for 31 with Shaun Williamson taking 7-10 and Nick Williamson 3-14. The Sandylanders cantered to a 10-wicket win.

Newly promoted Haworth West End were even worse as they were bowled out for a paltry 18 at Cowling, Martin Rishton 6-14 and Martyn Dalby 3-4 doing the damage. The homesters strolled home by nine wickets.

Sutton struggled to 83-6 at Barrowford who found few problems taking the points by 10 wickets.

Foulridge's Australian recruit soon made an impact on the local scene as he took 3-23 and scored 83no as the Noyna side beat Pendle Forest by four wickets.

One of the pre-season favourites for the Second Division title, Denholme made the long journey to Chatburn and came away beaten by eight wickets. P Clark scored 54 out of the White Rose side's 69. The Red Rose men encountered few problems reaching their target.

Keighley TC made 53 at Glusburn with Brian Hollis taking 3-29. The home side reached their target for the loss of two wickets.

Chris Walker, returning to Ingrow St John's from Silsden, took 6-18 as visitors Cononley were blasted out for just 27. The Saints lost one wicket knocking off the runs.

Newcomers Ingrow travelled to Barrowford to take on James Nelson's and started with a two wicket win. Jimmy's made 166 with Tony Stafford scoring 52 and K Brian 42 as P Walsh took 3-45. A Stokes led the Keighley side to victory with 47 as David Parker claimed 4-55.

Last year's third division champions Embsay had a tricky start at Oakworth and batting first made a modest 142-9 with Mark Tucker scoring 53 and David Barrett 31.

The Cure Hill side were struggling at 94-6 when Gary Searby joined seasoned campaigner Brian Pennington. The pair edged their way to the target and got there with seven overs to spare. The former scoring 14no and the latter 29no.

Thornton got their show on the road at Sutton, winning by 121 runs. Anthony Giles with 47 helped the Booth Bridge Lane side to 147-9 in their overs, R Thackray finishing with 4-64 from 23 overs. Mark Laycock with 4-2 helped undermine the youthful homesters for just 26.

Eight man Barrowford had no answer to Craig Ogden who finished with 4-0 in just two overs as they made 34-7 at Haworth. The Bronte side lost one wicket achieving victory.

Paul Hirst 56no and Mick Hall 50 helped visitors Bradley to 155-6 at Long Lee. Then Nigel Bibby 5-23 and Hall 3-40 had the Keighley side back in the hut for 72.

Glusburn's Colin Ridehalgh turned in the day's best bowling performance with 7-46 at Pendle Forest. The Fence side made 127 with Andrew Mawdsley scoring 54. The visitors were then brushed aside for 44 with Paul Hakin taking 5-23.

Skipton CI had a walk-over when Chatburn conceded the game because they couldn't raise a side.

Cullingworth got off to a bright start as they overcame visitors Airedale by eight wickets. Chris Aleve helped the visitors to 137-9. Alistair Campbell with 66no led the successful reply.

Cononley second string performed a little better than their first team but they were brushed aside for 29 by Ingrow St John's who won by nine wickets. Foulridge were victorious by 48 runs at Keighley TC.

There was no play in the Ingrow v Pendle Forest III game because the ground was waterlogged.