AFTER their excellent start at Baildon on the opening day of the Bradford Cricket League season newly promoted Yeadon like virtually all the other clubs locally were thwarted by the weather last Saturday.

They had a high profile game against Hanging Heaton - who include former Yeadon all-rounder Steve Bartle in their ranks - in the offing but heavy rain and a waterlogged ground put paid to that.

Yeadon have been given a testing start to life in the First Division with games against Baildon, Hanging Heaton and Pudsey Congs and after an excellent win over Baildon were relishing the challenge of entertaining Hanging Heaton.

As it was no play was possible and only one First Division Bradford League game got underway.

Yeadon will be hoping to build on that initial success when they visit Pudsey Congs on Saturday and for that game they have selected - Damon Gormley, Neil Elvidge, Paul Hebden, Simon Gormley, John Roper, Darren Murray, Craig Thornton, Jon Carey, Grant Soames, Jonny Henry and Naeem Khan. Players should meet at Yeadon at 12.15 pm.

The second team for the scheduled home game with Pudsey Congs is - A Cookland, L Wood, J Blackburn, D Nuttley, N Skaife, N Kane, D Smith, R Smith, A McGuinness, W Darby, N Darfield. (Meet at 12.30 pm).

Yeadon are also looking to repeat their cup success of last season when some thrilling encounters saw them overcome First Division opposition to reach the Priestley Cup final in which they lost to East Bierley. They will be hoping to go one better this time out.

They open their campaign at Hartshead Moor a week on Sunday when their opening bowler John Roper will be renewing acquaintances with his old club.

One man who will be renewing acquaintances at Yeadon this season is the Bradford and Bingley skipper Patrick Fordham.

The wicketkeeper-batsman captained Yeadon before spending ten years as the international captain of Hong Kong.

Fordham took over as skipper of Bingley from Richard McCarthy mid-way through last season when things were not going too well for the then champions.

He turned things round for them and played a major role in them winning the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy.

Bingley have lost the services of another former Yeadon player with former Notts pace bowler David Pennett having joined Yorkshire League side Harrogate.

They do however still have former Yeadon opening bowler and captain Peter Graham in their ranks.

Fordham and Graham are just two of the locally-based players who play for Bingley. Otley's Ian Chaplin and Rawdon's Mark Best are others.

Another former Yeadon bowler hoping to impress this season is Farsley's Tony Gilks who has spent a successful winter playing in Australia.

His Farsley colleague of last season Mark Ross has once again returned to play for Airedale and Wharfedale League side Guiseley.

Ross previously had a Bradford League season with Pudsey Congs.

l Pictured right are Yeadon skipper Damon Gormley and Hanging Heaton skipper Simon Purdy surveying the wet scene at Yeadon.

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