TWO championship-winning sides will meet in the first round of the Timothy Taylor’s Craven League’s Manorlands Plate this season.

Bowling Baptist, who finished top of the pile in Division Three in 2023, will be at home to Bradley, who were the front-runners in Division Two.

Apart from that tie at Scotchman Road, there are two other first-round ties, with Eldwick & Gilstead entertaining Sutton, and league runners-up Gargrave hosting Denholme, who, like Sutton, were demoted from the top flight last season.

The matches, arranged by mutual consent and played in The Hundred format, must be played on or before Thursday July 4, with money raised in the competition going to Manorlands Hospice at Oxenhope.

The winners of the three first-round ties will all be at home in the quarter-finals.

Eldwick & Gilstead or Sutton will face Wilsden, the victors in the Bowling Baptist v Bradley contest will meet Keighley III, and either Manorlands Plate 2023 finalists Gargrave or Denholme will play Skipton CI.

The other quarter-final, with ties to be completed on or before Friday, August 2, is 2023 semi-finalists Silsden at home to holders Riddlesden.

The finals day is pencilled in for Keighley Cricket Club on Sunday, August 25.

Semi-finals are at 10am and 1.30pm, with the final at 4.30pm.