THE first major Devonshire Carpets Craven League Premier Division crunch match of 2004 is the focus of attention tomorrow when leaders Grindleton take on the only unbeaten team in the division, Skipton LMS.

With Bronte Wanderers still having a string of games in hand on the pace-makers, the outcome of tomorrow's Ribblesdale clash is far from decisive in title terms, but the duo have been shaping up as the likely successors to last season's champions Oxenhope Recreation, if indeed the Worth Valley man do surrender their title.

The fact that LMS slipped to the top of the table last weekend with a win at Bradley while Grindleton were sidelined by snow at Grassington added extra spice to proceedings.

Oxenhope travel to Cross Hills tomorrow for what might prove a testing assignment.

The home side are too close to the relegation zone for comfort and will be keen to upset the form-book. Bottom club Lothersdale Athletic are also in urgent need of points when they visit Embsay.

Division One leaders Chatburn have home advantage against Embsay Reserves, while there will also be keen interest in the game at Oxenhope Recreation Reserves, where title challengers Gargrave are visitors.

Skipton LMS Reserves can steal a march on leaders Cross Hills Reserves at the top of Division Two if they can get the better of visitors Silsden Athletic at Sandylands, while Hellifield Sports will be aiming to strengthen their promotion challenge when they visit McBrides.

Cononley Reserves are also lurking in the background at this point, with four games in hand on the leaders, but they face a potentially tricky test at Intake Reserves.

Division Three pace-makers Pendle Athletic visit Gargrave Reserves, while second-placed Oakworth Juniors will be hoping to give their scoring average a boost when they entertain bottom club Cowling Reserves.

Devonshire Carpets Craven & District League

Premier Division: Bronte Wanderers v Bradley, Cononley Sports v Intake, Cross Hills v Oxenhope Recreation, Embsay v Lothersdale Athletic, Grindleton v Skipton LMS.

Division League Cup replay: Barrowford United v Skipton Bulldogs.

Division One: Chatburn v Embsay Res, Cowling v Carleton, Horton v Skipton Town, Oxenhope Rec Res v Gargrave.

Division Two: Bradley Res v Grindleton Res, Grassington Un Res v Keighley Lifts Res, Intake Res v Cononley Sp Res, McBrides v Hellifield Sp, Skipton LMS Res v Silsden Ath.

Division Three League Cup, Round One: Skipton Bulldogs Res v Earby Town.

Division Three: Gargrave Res v Pendle Athletic, Hellifield Sp Res v Barnoldswick Barons, Oakworth Juniors v Cowling Res, Rolls-Royce v Earby Town, Skipton Town Res v Waddington Res.