IN a knockout draw which visibly brought home the exciting new era caused by the merger of the Bradford League and the Central Yorkshire League next season, holders Bradford & Bingley will start the defence of their Priestley Cup crown with a first-round home match against Liversedge.

All clubs from the ECB Bradford Premier League's top flight and the two Championship Divisions that sit below it were entered into the league's blue-riband cup, and there were nine ties solely involving clubs who were in the Bradford League in 2015.

Lightcliffe, runners-up this season, were drawn at home to Hartshead Moor, while league champions Pudsey St Lawrence were last out of the hat and travel to Bowling Old Lane.

Bankfoot will be at home to Keighley in one of four preliminary-round ties, on Sunday, May 1, while three intriguing first-round ties are Woodlands v New Farnley, Central Yorkshire League champions Methley v East Bierley and Pudsey Congs v Hanging Heaton.

Of the other Central Yorkshire League heavyweights, Townville will host the winners of the Bankfoot v Keighley tie, while Wrenthorpe will be in preliminary-round action at home to Ossett.

The losers of the four preliminary-round ties have the option of dropping into the Jack Hampshire Memorial Trophy involving the Conference clubs.

Priestley CupPreliminary round: Batley v Hopton Mills, Hunslet Nelson (East Ardsley in Priestley Shield) v Brighouse, Bankfoot v Keighley, Wrenthorpe v Ossett. Matches to be played on Sunday, May 1.

First round: Batley or Hopton Mills v Saltaire, Bradford & Bingley v Liversedge (Azaad in Shield), Hunslet Nelson or Brighouse v Wrenthorpe or Ossett, Townville (Wakefield St Michaels in Shield) v Bankfoot or Keighley, Woodlands v New Farnley, Methley v East Bierley, Lightlciffe v Hartshead Moor, Pudsey Congs v Hanging Heaton, Baildon v Birstall, Farsley v Yeadon, Windhill v Gomersal, Morley v Scholes, Carlton v Spen Victoria, Altofts v Cleckheaton, Undercliffe v Idle, Bowling Old Lane v Pudsey St Lawrence. Date to be confirmed. Priestley Shield ties are the reverse of the above.

Jack Hampshire Memorial TrophyPreliminary round: Oulton v Northowram Field (Sunday, May 1).

First round: Great Preston v Buttershaw St Paul's, Heckmondwike & Carlinghow v Batley or Hopton Mills, Gildersome v Crossbank Methodists, Azaad (Liversedge in Wheatley Cup) v Hunslet Nelson or Brighouse, Rodley v Bankfoot or Keighley, East Leeds v East Ardsley, Wrenthorpe or Ossett v Wakefield St Michaels, Adwalton v Oulton or Northowram Field. Date to be confirmed. Wheatley Cup ties are the reverse of the above.