WET outfields and squares and Eid celebrations meant that only six matches were played on what became the opening weekend of the Mewies Solicitors Craven League season.

However, two of those victories were achieved by Silsden, with their first XI triumphing by nine wickets at Ingrow in Division Two and their newly-formed second XI winning in equally emphatic fashion in Division Four at Airedale II.

Sent in, only two Ingrow players managed double figures (No 6 Alexander Frye with 25 and No 11 Anthony Hodgson with 21) as Will Pullen (4-28), Joshua Waind (2-18) and Alex Nelson (2-24) held sway.

Then, as if to make an instant statement about their promotion intentions, Silsden knocked off the runs for the loss of one wicket in just 11 overs, with Waind finishing unbeaten on 52 off just 30 balls, which included five fours and three sixes.

He received good back-up from fellow opener Sam Barraclough (29) as they added 56, and Rob Jones (23no) then came in to help Waind finish the job in quick time.

Cowling were one of only two teams to win in Division One, edging a tight contest by nine runs over visitors Hepworth & Idle.

Put in, skipper Martyn Dalby (33), Danish Hameed (27) and Laiq Ur Rehman (16) scored the bulk of Cowling’s 132.

Hepworth & Idle were in trouble early doors but, boosted by three scores in the twenties, they went close to victory, only to be denied by opening bowlers Hamid Ullah (5-26) and Connor Brown (3-18).

Cononley, like Silsden hoping to make up for last year’s near miss, were the only winners on the field in Division Three.

Asked to bat first at Gargrave II, Cononley scored a reasonable 146, with opener Herbie Starkey (46), keeper Nathan Parker (24) and Tom Feather (21) among the runs.

Dave Harrop (5-19) and Dieter Kayley (3-42) did their best to restrict them, but only new recruit Dominic Ferneyhough (15) made double figures after tea as Gargrave II were dismissed for 57, with Feather (4-6), Starkey (3-10) and Harry Parker (2-19) ending the contest convincingly.

In Division Four, Silsden were reduced to 7-2 before being revived by Tom Berry (35), Finlay Nixon-Snowden (25), keeper James Nelson (45no) and Max Berrisford (21) on their way to 157-6.

Airedale were then skittled for 38, with only opener Jamie Dalgleish (14) making double figures as Kieran Lawrence took 5-14 and TJ Berry 3-8.