Last season’s Craven League Division One runners-up Bradley were very much under the cosh at Oakworth, going down by nine wickets.

The visitors went first and were dismissed for 81, with Casper Bean making 30 as Jack Davison claimed 3-5 and new recruit Michael Houseman 3-13.

In the successful chase, former Keighley player Paul Spragg, making a return to cricket after three years out, scored a fine 50 not out to see his side to the spoils by nine wickets.

Champions Crossflatts got their season off to a good start with a five-wicket victory at Cowling while newly-promoted Thornton were indebted to Kevin Pollard (46) and Rob Foster (49) as they could only total 130.

Cullingworth romped home by eight wickets, with Chris Welch making 51 before retiring and Steve Welch 42 not out.

The other promoted side, Barrowford, also slumped to defeat. After being restricted to 120-8, visitors Embsay lost seven wickets reaching their target, with David Wellock 44 leading the way.

Cononley made an encouraging start with the bat scoring 214 all out (Andrew Starkey 70, Billy Pinder 66) but Bingley Congs cantered to victory by six wickets with Andrew Copping scoring 52 and Neil Copping 50.

In the Division Two, Sutton won their derby game with Glusburn. The Royd Hill side posted 178-6 going first thanks mainly to Chris Williams (48no) and A Kay (46no), who put on an undefeated 73 for the seventh wicket. Evergreen Bryan Hollis finished with 3-40 off 11 overs. Glusburn were never in the hunt and crumpled to 136 all out. Paul Barker made 23 as Wasim Hussain took 3-16.

Long Lee batters enjoyed themselves at Wilsden as they crashed 285-7 in their overs. David Brown, returning from Ingrow, led the way with 68, aided by Jon Green (48) and Matt Taylor (38). Only N Jagger with 60 offered much resistance as the Windy Grove side were knocked over for 127 with Shabaz Ahmed taking 5-27.

Division Three champions Airedale went down by 50 runs at home to Pendle Forest. Matthew Lutz, with 51, helped the Fence side to 174-9 with A Mahmood claiming 6-46. A lex Pue made 29 as the Bradford Road side fell short of their target, with Peter Hakin taking 5-65 and Andy Townsend 3-35.

The other promoted side, Embsay II, got their campaign off to a winning start when they brushed aside Chatburn by 130 runs.

Going first the Shires Lane side rattled up 217-5 in their overs, with Jonathan Coward scoring 61 not out and Nas Hussain 51. After slumping to 35-7 a bit of tail wagging got the Ribble Valley side to 100. Youngster Ben Stockton took 4-4 and Coward 4-47.

Relegated Ingrow blew away the cobwebs and saw off Foulridge by 93 runs at Hainworth. Chris Crook (74), Lee Humphreys (51) and Mark Pennington (43) saw the homesters to 217-6. Then Ian Roberts (4-37) had the visitors back in the hut for 121 with only John Lickess (46), offering much resistance.

Sandy Lane were in fine pomp as they crashed 300-9 at Riddlesden. J Dennison (49), M Roberts (48) and K Jarveed (48no) were the main scorers. Adam Khan made 74 as the homeside replied with 172.

In Division Three, Andy Maude (4-38) and Dave Pearson (3-35) helped restrict visitors Oakworth II to 146-9. It was more than enough as Eldwick & Gilstead slumped to 74 all out as Adam Smith took 5-15 off 11 overs.

Promoted Cullingworth II scored 149 at home to relegated Haworth WE, with Andy Benfield claiming 5-58. The visitors romped home by 6wickets with S Chipman making a fine 71.

Haworth Road II beat Glusburn II by eight wickets, Crossflatts II saw off Denholme by six wickets and Gargrave managed to defend 138-4 down at Skipton CI, who fell six runs short of their target.

In Division Four, the two promoted sides locked horns at Carleton and it was champions Little Marsden who snatched victory by one wicket in a low-scoring game. Z Tariq, with 6-18 and 22, played a significant part in that performance.

There was a similar result at Sandy Lane II, where visitors Riddlesden II reached their target in the 43rd over.

Bradley II lost at home to Ingrow II by 61 runs and in the Red Rose derby at Chatburn II, the visitors Barrowford II won by four wickets.

Up at Golden Acre, Wilsden II were dismissed for 72, and then shot Long Lee II out for a paltry 45, with C Mitchell taking 4-17 and Dave Collins 4-7 off just 11 balls.

The innings of the day came at Haworth II, where Adrian Ratcliffe plundered 149 of Sutton II's bowling. With the help of R Rutter ,who made 66, the Bronte side walloped 324 in the innings, after being 85-5 at one stage. The visitors were never in the picture and slumped to 111 all out, with Rutter taking 3-25, Dave Walsh 3-27 and Derek Bright 3-40.

Thornton II were in charge at Penistone Hill and hey beat Haworth WE II by 168 runs. Airedale II won by two wickets at home to Denholme II and Cowling II beat Pendle Forest II by 42 runs at Victory Park.

Finally, opener J Hill made 54 not out as Bingley Congs II made 131-8 at Beckfoot Lane. In reply Oakworth III fell short by just three runs in a nail-biting finish.