Yeadon felt the force of Cleckheaton's new overseas player South African Derek Brand when the Bradford League season opened on Saturday.

Cleckhetaon batted first at Dam Lane and clocked up 170-8 with Brand hitting 68 from the number four spot.

Yeadon new boys Gulsheraz Ahmed (Keighley) and Habib Ullah (Kingstonian) each picked up a couple of wickets for a side lacking their overseas player Naeem Khan, Jonny Henry and Iain Philliskirk.

Ullah formed a new opening partnership with former Lidget Green man Wasim Munawar but Ullah soon went for seven as Swallow and new skipper Paul Booth got to grips with things.

Booth made things difficult for Yeadon with a 5-29 return but they hung on for a point at 100-7. Munawar contributed 22 and Ahmed batted solidly for 39 but Craig Thornton's side will have to do much better than this if they are to hold on to their First Division status.

Their all round power will be imprpoved once Khan's domestic cricket duties in Pakistan are over and Philliskirk is back in the frame after his soccer commitments.

Yeadon will of course miss the all round skills of Neil Elvidge who has returned to play in his home area with Flixton and Flockton and the pace bowling of Darren Murray who has returned to the Airedale and Wharfedale League with Bilton.

Yeadon face thr challenge of the vastly experienced Bradford and Bingley side led by their former skipper Patrick Fordham. Fordham, the former Hong Kong international captain, will face his former club along with another former Yeadon skipper in Peter Graham.

Bingley with no new signings are very much relying on last season's squad with four of their players - Fordham, Graham, Mark Best and Richard McCarthy - now well into the veteran stage.

Their experience is legendary however with former Australian state cricketer McCarthy showing at Farsley on Saturday that he is still a big force to be reckoned with with bat or ball.

He hammered an enormous six over the houses at Red Lane as he top scored for his side with an unbeaten 31. Bingley made 154-9 and Farsley were indebted to Tony Gilks and Chris Brook for hanging on for ten overs to get a point for their side at 116-9.

Watching Farsley Chairman Ray Illingworth would hardly have been impressed with his side's first day showing.

McCarthy had removed Yorkshire contracted player Chris Taylor, the former Benton Park School player, for a duck and finished with 1-20 off 11 overs.

Graham showed he has lost none of his trademark meanness with the ball taking 4-33 off 12 overs.

In Division Two Esholt's young side made an excellent start sending back visitors Hartshead Moor for a mere 41. Ben Lister grabbed 4-13, Michael Oldfield an amazing 5-4 and Darren Drake 1-21.

Esholt knocked off the runs for the loss of three wickets with opener S Shuttleworth unbeaten on 24.

Nidderdale

League

BLUBBERHOUSES made a great start to the Nidderdale League season with a nine wickets win over Lofthouse and Middlesmoor who fell for 102 as Dave Tricklebank took 3-24 and P Dalby 3-19. B Davis was in excellent form with the bat making an undefeated 64 as Blubberhouses rubbed off the runs.

In Division Three Bolton Abbey lost to Thircon after being dismissed for 156 with E Tiffany top scoring with 48 and R Mayo making an unbeaten 41. Thircon made 158-2.

Successful start

for Bramhope

BRAMHOPE CC opened their season with wins for both teams in the Wetherby League. The first team, playing at Whixley, were soon in trouble on a damp wicket. Wickets kept falling and only a patient 15 not out from Neil Normington enabled Bramhope to reach 72 all out.

In reply Whixley were also soon in trouble collapsing to 52 all out with Kevin Page taking 6-33 and new signing Mark Blundell 3-17 doing the damage as they started their defence of the title in excellent style.

The second team were put in to bat by visitors Wighill Park and reached 177-9 in their 45 overs thanks to Andrew Harrison (59), opener Nick Boyes (35) and Wayne Greenwood (20).

In reply Wighill were never in the hunt and were bowled out for just 78 as Boyes took 3-35, Andy Wood 2-28 and Ronnie Addinall 3-6.

l On Saturday Bramhope entertain Bilton-in-Ainsty and the second team travel to Bilton.