CRICKET kicks off the season this weekend with a full programme of matches around the local leagues.

Craven League officials expect it to be one of the most open competitions for years with the current champions, Barrowford, looking to retain the title they won for the first time last season.

They have again got the services who has been playing for UP Timber in Lucknow, India, throughout the winter and have also recruited Paul Hargreaves from Rolls Royce.

Embsay will miss the talent of Duncan Bullough who has retired due to business commitments and they have also lost the services of pace bowler Dan Stephens who has had a knee operation recently. They have recruited Nick Williamson from Skipton CI and Geoff Ward from Addingham.

Oakworth have lost a couple of players, but have made a good signing in Jason Bilbrough from Haworth West Wend who won the league bowling averages last season. Ben Holmes from Haworth Road is also joining them.

Newly promoted Glusburn have added three men to their squad including Mark Price from Oakworth and Steve Filkin who has returned from Cononley.

In the second Division Stuart Rodgers and Geoff Lloyd have made the short journey from Denholme Clough to Denholme.

Barrowford have been invited to enter the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy and face York Senior League champions Easingwold at Bull Holme on May 29. The league has also been invited to take part in the Nidderdale Show Annual Cricket Match at Pately Bridge in September.

Fixtures

Bradford League (1pm start): Lightcliffe v Keighley, Keighley 2nd XI v Spen Victoria 2nd XI.

Craven League

Division One: Embsay v Cowling, Foulridge v Thornton, Bradley v Haworth, Bingley Congs v Glusburn, Barrowford v Cullingworth, Oakworth v Haworth We.

Division Two: Sutton v Chatburn, Pendle Forest v Denholme, Cononley v Ingrow, Sandy Lane v Haworth Road, Crossflatts v Airedale, Long Lee v Skipton CI.

Division Three: Wilsden v Embsay II, Thornton II v Pendle Forest II, Ingrow St John's II v Ingrow St John's, Haworth Road II v J Nelson's, Riddlesden v Barrowford II, Gargrave v Oakworth II.

Division Four: Cowling II v Wilson II, Caleton v Keighley TC, Haworth II v Bradley II, Glusburn II v Bingley Congs II, Airedale II v Crossflatts II, Skipton CI II v Long Lee II.

Division Five: Chatburn II v Sutton II, Denholme II v Foulridge II, Ingrow II v Cononley II, Pendle Forest III v Sandy Lane II, Cullingworth II v Riddlesden II, Gargrave II free week.