Craven Cricket League
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Cricketers hoping for some dry weather
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| Chris Capstick who has joined Bradley from Sutton |
The Mewies Solicitors Craven and District Cricket League is scheduled to start this Saturday. Unlike last year the weather has not been kind to groundsmen trying to get wickets, squares and outfields ready.
Division One champions, Cullingworth will be looking to retain their trophy and the Wynn Cup.
Their squad will be weakened somewhat by the loss of Aussie Dave Cavanagh, although they have recruited Brannon Varley from South Africa and Nigel Brett from Crossflatts.
They are also the league's representatives in the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions competition and have been drawn at home to York on Sunday, May 25.
Thornton, who finished in second spot, will be looking to go one better, and third placed Crossflatts will be hoping to consolidate on the splendid season of last year.
Embsay have lost James Tiffany to Bolton Abbey whilst John Hillary has returned from Bradley. Simon Bailey skippers the side for a second year.
Bradley have secured the services of opener Chris Capstick from Sutton and are awaiting the arrival of Aussie Benjamin Hall
Oakworth have lost the services of one of their talented youngsters Scott Hartley, who has transferred to Keighley.
However they are bolstered by the return of Robert Hopkinson from the Keighley club.
Zafran Ghaffar has joined Sandy Lane and they will look to maintain their improvement of last season.
Cowling will be bolstered by the arrival of Jarrod Quirk from Spring Gully CC of the Emu Valley Cricket League in Australia.
Another Aussie, Benno Schliker, is joining newly promoted Barrowford who will hope to continue their good form of last year. Cononley, back in the top flight after a number of years, will be hoping to cement their place.
In the Second Division Haworth will be hoping to bounce straight back up, as will Sutton.
Airedale who lost out on promotion on the last Saturday of the season despite having recruited really well, will want to push on and secure promotion. Chatburn and Haworth Road will be hoping to make further progress on their efforts of last year.
The two promoted clubs Pendle Forest and Wilsden may find the step up a little daunting unless they are doing some late recruiting.
There is little player movement in the Third Division so assessing promotion chances is very hit and miss. Three to watch are Skipton CI, Carleton and Gargrave. Riddlesden will be hoping to do well in the Fourth Division after recruiting Dharmesh Mistry and Adam Khan from Wilsden, Mohammed Urfan from Long Lee and Neal Haines form Ingrow St John's.
New challenge
After gaining promotion to the top-flight of the Nidderdale League for the first time in their history Bolton Abbey CC first XI start the season at home to last season's First Division champions Killinghall.
Ed Tiffany remains captain and has successfully recruited his brother James as wicket-keeper batsman from his 17 year stint at Embsay.
Bolton Abbey have no overseas players, preferring to rely on home-grown talent, particularly the blossoming youth of all-rounder Dan Parkinson and opening bat Phil Midgley. James Tiffany's inclusion should also help free-up the mercurial bowling talents of Kev Holme and Rob Mayo.
The club seems to have pregnancy' problems this year but that should give opportunities to the extended squad. Dave Burton was a revelation with the bat last year whilst it is hoped that Jonny Coward's abilities with both bat and ball will be on show more often. Will Lord will be indispensable in the field and Rob Hodgson hopefully his consistent self again with the bat. Needless to say they are both nervous and excited about their first season in the First Division, only Kev Holme has played there before.
The club has been netting for several weeks. They have also spent more time and money on ground improvements than ever before.
12:07pm Thursday 17th April 2008
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