IT would appear that the start of the Craven and District Cricket League season came too soon for some clubs, with plenty putting out scratch sides which resulted in some low scores.

Three matches were wiped out by foot and mouth problems, including the pick of the day between current champions Thornton and one of the closest Division One rivals, Oakworth.

Last season's runners-up in the first division, Embsay, entertained Haworth and lost two quick wickets before some enterprising play by Bob Bateman (74) and Jason Waddington (59) put on 135 in 20 overs for the third wicket. A useful 49 from John Hilary then helped the later order to take the score to a splendid 251-7.

The visitors struggled to 46 for eight in reply and only late resistance from Derek Bright (25) and Alex Austerbury (20no) enabled the side to reach 92, Stephen Speak making a smooth transition from the football field with a 6-23 return from15 overs

Bradley also topped the 200 mark when they reached 203-4 at home to Long Lee, Neil Robinson leading the way with 80, before a strong all-round bowling effort dismissed the visitors for 100.

Carleton were one of the clubs whose pre-season preparations have been severely curtailed by the foot and mouth crisis. Happily, they have been able to make some adjustments to the footpath which adjoins their pitch to bring the ground back into action, although they could be forgiven for wondering whether their efforts were really necessary after their opening game.

They were shot out for 31 by Skipton Church Institute, Shaun Williamson turning in a 7-16 haul from 10.5 overs and Nick Williamson supporting with 3-14 as the pair set up a ten-wicket win for the visitors.

Newly promotion Haworth West End have also been having ground problems and the closure of their Penistone Hill head-quarters was felt even more acutely when they visited Cowling. Martin Rishton (6-14) and Martyn Dalby (3-4) sent them reeling to 18 all out, the home side getting home by nine wickets.

Sutton were never comfortable when they batted first against Barrowford at Bull Holme. Despite useful contributions from Messrs Brown (38) and Williams (23no), the visitors could manage only 83-6 in their allotted overs, a target the Barrowford openers reached without being separated.

Foulridge's recruit from the Antipodes, Trevor Switzer, made his presence felt in fine style in his side's four-wicket win at home to Pendle Forest. He chipped in with 3-23 from 12 overs as the visitors reached 117 and then produced a match-winning innings to save the day for the Division One newcomers. When Foulridge were reduced to 7-4, Forest's tally looked a long way off, but Switzer was the man for the occasion, his unbeaten 83 helping his side to victory.

Denholme are one of the favourites to challenge for the Division Two title after finishing third last season, but their campaign got away to a bad start with an eight-wicket reverse at Chatburn. With six batsmen failing to trouble the scorer and only Clark (54) making any headway, Denholme were all out for 69, a tally which Chatburn overhauled without undue alarms.