THE Bradford & District Evening League, which starts the new campaign tonight, will be hoping for better weather on Wednesdays than last season, when 30 per cent of the fixtures either did not start or did not finish.

 

With Stonewhite, West Bowling and Yorkshire LPS gone from the 2016 intake, replaced by Raja's and Crossflatts, it has simplified matters as both divisions now have eight teams, so no free weeks.

 

Division One defending champions Salem Athletic have a potentially tough start against last season's runners-up Mayfield, while Denholme – third last year – have a tricky fixture at Shelf.

 

Promoted Ciroc, who are based at the Karmand Centre and won the end-of-season Finals Day play-offs at Great Horton Park Chapel, welcome the Adil Rashid Cricket Academy (formerly Omars), who will be playing their home games at East Bierley.

 

Division Two champions Greenfield, who will also be playing their home games at the Karmand Centre, are at Thornton in another testing encounter.

 

Newcomers Raja's and Crossflatts meet at Parkside in Division Two, while relegated Great Horton Park Chapel have a stiff task at home to an experienced John Breare outfit, who were fourth last year.

 

Hepworth & Idle, third last season after a solid campaign, host Halifax League side Bradshaw, who began 2016 strongly before falling away to finish sixth.

 

Cross Roads & Daisy Hill, who have recently joined with Bradford League returnees Windhill, host Cambing – who failed to win a game last year but fulfilled all their fixtures – at Busy Lane.