WEATHER permitting - and at the time of writing it did not look too promising - the Airedale and Wharfedale Senior Cricket League season gets underway on Saturday.

It is an exciting time for all concerned with the league as for the first time it will be operating a third division.

The league has attracted a whole new division of teams the only blot being that after Otley Town were elected to the new Third Division they disbanded.

There has been a big influx of Leeds League teams in Pool, Pool Mills, Olicanians, Ben Rhydding, Colton, Woodhouse and Kirkstall Educational along with Bolton Villas, Thackley, Bardsey and Upper Wharfedale.

The third teams division has also been extended with Colton, Kirkstall Educational and Otley joining.

Last year's double winners Steeton will be hoping to hold onto their crowns.

In the Waddilove Cup they face first round opposition from the winner of the preliminary round game between Guiseley and Hall Park.

The full first round draw is - Woodhouse v Kirkstall, Steeton v Guiseley or Hall Park, Ilkley v Thackley, North Leeds v Silsden, Horsforth v Pool Mills, Adel v Bolton Villas, Bilton v Upper Wharfedale, Bardsey v Knaresborough, Addingham or Illingworth v Green Lane, Calverley v Rawdon, Collingham v Follifoot, Ben Rhydding v Pool, Beckwithshaw v Olicanians, Alwoodley v Burley, Menston v Otley, Colton v Skipton.

Birtwhistle Cup ties for second teams are reversed.

These matches will be played on Sunday, May 21.

The Waddilove Cup final will this year be at Knaresborough on Sunday, August 13, with the Birtwhistle Cup final at Otley on Sunday, August 6.

Third Teams

rained off

The Third Teams Division was due to get underway last Sunday but there was very little play.

The game between Otley and Rawdon at Cross Green was almost completed when Otley were thwarted by the rain with victory in sight.

Rawdon were dismissed in 29.4 overs having made a mere 65. Some excellent bowling from Andy Chaplin saw him take 4-23 off 15 overs, seven of which were maidens. He helped peg Rawdon down while D Jones, C Keddle and Charlie Davy each grabbed a wicket and Richard Mason two.

Otley made a solid start in reply reaching 31 before losing their first wicket. Opener J North made 34 but then wickets started to fall .

When Otley were 60-6 after 25.3 overs rain washed the game out.

At Ilkley Kirkstall Educational were dismissed for 45 as J MacDougall took 3-11 off ten overs, S Tolley 2-18 off ten, N Cockcroft 2-0 off three, M Iqbal 2-4 off four and B Bailey 1-7 off seven balls. Only opener C Stevenson with 19 showed any resistance.

Ilkley knocked off the runs without loss in just 12 overs with R Jones making 19 no and N Cockcroft 16 no.

There was no play at Knaresborough where North Leeds were the visitors, at Bilton where Burley were the visitors or at Colton where Green Lane were the visitors.

Addingham CC

welcome for

new juniors

Put the football boots away and get out the cricket bat - another junior cricket season is about to start. Addingham Cricket Club Junior Section practice nights begin on Monday,May 8, from 6.30pm to 7.45pm for young cricketers in the Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 age groups.

The practice sessions for the Under-15s and Under-17s are held at the cricket club, and the Under-13s will begin at the Addingham Middle School outdoor nets. After a successful season last year, the Junior Section at Addingham is looking to see the improvement continue and welcomes new players to this friendly village club. All you need are some whites and bags of enthusiasm.

The Under-17 team is being coached by Addingham senior players Paul Rishworth and Chris Campbell, and the Under-15s by Ian Silverthorne. The Under-13 side is being organised by Dave Houlston and any parents who wish to lend a hand.

A Welcome and Registration Evening is being held at the cricket club on Thursday, May 4, at 7.00pm when all players and parents are invited to meet the coaches and club officials. For further information contact Dave Houlston on 01943 831294.

Millet Evening

League

The Millet Printers Evening Cricket League is due to start on Thursday, May 4 with each of the eight clubs playing each other on a home and away basis. Both semi-finals will be staged at Farsley Cricket Club's Red Lane ground on Sunday, August 20, with the final also at Farsley on Sunday, September 3.

Matches this season will consist of 16 eight ball overs per innings, except the final which will be 32 overs per side. Each club is allowed to play up to five guest players in any one match but they must be selected from an original five registered guest players. Matches on the opening evening are - Baildon v Adel, Farsley v Horsforth, Pudsey St Lawrence v Meanwood, St Chad's v Pudsey Congs.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.