BURLEY, still holders of the Aire-Wharfe League's Waddilove Cup as it did not take place this season, have an intriguing opening tie in next year's competition.

The 2019 winners will be at home in the preliminary round on Sunday, April 25 against Horsforth Hall Park, who lost their semi-final to eventual runners-up North Leeds last year.

That is one of three ties to be played on that date, with the others being 2019 quarter-finalists Pool at home to Leeds Modernians, and 2020 league runners-up Rawdon visiting Follifoot, who were relegated from the top flight this year.

The first round, which contains 16 ties, will be held on Sunday, May 9, with 2020 league champions Otley hosting Olicanian, who just avoided relegation from Division One, while fifth-placed Addingham are at New Rover.

North Leeds host runaway 2020 Division Two champions Beckwithshaw, while Saltaire make the short trip to Calverley St Wilfrids, who were demoted from Division Two.

Horsforth will be at home to Steeton, while Green Lane, a distant second to Division Two champions Beckwithshaw, are at Tong Park Esholt.

Guiseley will visit the winners of the Horsforth Hall Park-Burley tie, while the winners of Pool and Leeds Modernians will be at Adel.

Ilkley will be at home to whoever emerges victorious from the Follifoot and Rawdon conflict.

Division Three champions Colton Institute entertain Bolton Villas, while runners-up Skipton are at Alwoodley, and Thackley visit Bardsey.

Harden, promoted from Division Four, are at home to Old Leodiensians, while Menston, who finished a place below Harden, have a tough home draw against Bilton.

Meanwhile, Otley, who beat Bilton by five wickets in the 2019 final of the Aire-Wharfe League's Birtwhistle Cup for second teams, will start their defence with a first-round derby at Olicanian on Sunday, May 9.

There are only two preliminary-round ties on Sunday, April 25, with Horsforth Hall Park, quarter-finalists last year, entertaining Division Five winners Burley, and Rawdon, Division Four champions who also reached the last eight a year ago, hosting Follifoot.

Tong Park Esholt, the highest-placed second team in the league in 2020 by virtue of finishing ninth in Division Three, are at Green Lane - semi-finalists when the event was last played, losing to runners-up Bilton, but since promoted from Division Four - in the first round.

Ilkley, who also lost in the semi-finals in 2019 but were relegated from Division Three this year, will visit the winners of the Rawdon and Follifoot tie.

Saltaire, losing quarter-finalists in 2019, are at home to Calverley St Wilfrids, who were relegated from Division Four in 2020, while Pool will host Adel, with Horsforth visiting Steeton.

Addingham will be at home to New Rover, while Bolton Villas will entertain Colton Institute, and Skipton, demoted from Division Five, have Horsforth as visitors.

Division Five runners-up Menston are at Bilton, and Harden travel to Old Leodiensians, while Thackley host Bardsey.

Finally, Horsforth Hall Park's home match with Guiseley may have been the last to be drawn out for the first round of the Aire-Wharfe League's Ian Chappell Cup next season, but it is far from the least interesting.

Hall Park were quarter-finalists the last time the third-team cup was held in 2019 and were Conference Division A runners-up this season, while Guiseley were third in Conference B.

They meet on Sunday, May 2, while also on that date, Burley-in-Wharfedale, who also reached the last eight a year ago, will be at home to Green Lane.

The other five first-round ties will be played on the previous Sunday, and include Olicanian, runners-up to North Leeds in 2019 and Conference A champions this year, visiting Saltaire.

Otley are at St Chads Broomfield, while Ilkley host Calverley St Wilfrids, and Skipton visit Kirkstall Educational.

North Leeds, third in Conference A this year, will begin their defence of the cup at either St Chads or Otley on Sunday, May 16, while the winners of Ilkley and Calverley will travel to Adel or New Rover.

Menston have a home derby against Pool, and Rawdon entertain Harden, while Steeton visit Horsforth.

The winners of Kirkstall and Skipton host Beckwithshaw, while Saltaire or Olicanian will be at home to either Hall Park or Guiseley.

Burley or Green Lane will entertain Alwoodley.