ONE of the intriguing questions of the new season is whether New Farnley can build on winning their first major title in 2016.

The early signs have been good, with an opening-day Bradford Premier League win at Cleckheaton being followed by an impressive start to their defence of the Heavy Woollen Cup.

New cricket manager Paul Hutchison, who oversaw Pudsey St Lawrence's title wins in 2015 and 2016, must have been pleased with what he has seen.

New signing Martin Andersson from Reading made 100 as they overhauled Shepley's 188 in Sunday's cup tie to win by seven wickets.

Tomorrow they are at home to East Bierley, who lost a record-breaking cup tie against Hoylandswaine which produced a staggering 874 runs for the loss of 15 wickets.

Former Cleckheaton batsman Chris Holliday made a sparkling 203 in Hoylandswaine's 455-7. East Bierley replied with 419-8 and will be hoping their bowlers can start to match the efforts of their batsmen.

Hanging Heaton, opening-day winners over promoted Townville, had an easy nine-wicket win over Spen Victoria in the Heavy Woollen Cup. They are still awaiting the arrival of overseas spinner Muhammad Rameez as they visit Bradford & Bingley but Yorkshire paceman Josh Shaw is expected to play.

Woodlands also recorded two wins last weekend. After brushing aside Pudsey Congs in their opening league game, they defeated Yeadon by 129 runs in the cup. New signing Jamie Pickering experienced mixed fortunes, following a duck on his debut with 87 against Yeadon.

Woodlands are at home to neighbours Cleckheaton tomorrow and defending champions Pudsey St Lawrence face a tricky visit to Lightcliffe, who began their season with a seven-wicket win at East Bierley.

Farsley, third last season, face the new-look Pudsey Congs side at Red Lane. They will be looking to build on a seven-wicket win at Batley, in which Yorkshire player James Wainman took five wickets.

The promoted pair of Townville and Batley both lost their opening games so will be keen to get a first league win on the board. Townville did at least have the boost of a 139-run Heavy Woollen Cup win over Cawthorne.

RESULTS – Heavy Woollen Cup, first round: Spen Victoria 115 (G Deegan 43, C Goodair 4-34) Hanging Heaton 116-1 (G Fellows 85no), Skelmanthorpe 159 Birstall 165-3, Moorlands 284 (C French 65, C Stott 53, Z Jadoon 5-44) Slaithwaite 100 (N Smith 4-4), Woodlands 287-9 (J Pickering 87, M Lawson 63) Yeadon 158 (J Wray 61, D Gormley 44, L Collins 4-33), Mirfield PC 246-8 (N Hussain 73, D Bolt 66, D Broadbent 45, J Brook 3-27) Scholes (HL) 227 (T Brook 40, N Hussain 4-26), Raistrick 189 (B Birkenhead 52, F Javed 55 A Holroyd 5-32) Crossbank Meths 194-4 (P Sauer 86), Townville 249-8 Cawthorne 110, Scholes 250-7 (A Badshah 119) Buttershaw St Paul's 170 (K McDermott 56, B Platt 41, G Lee 4-42), Ossett 98 Whitley Hall 99-1, Shepley 188 New Farnley 189-3 (M Anderson 100, L Goddard 57no), Hoylandswaine 455-8 (C Holliday 203, G Ranhawa 90), East Bierley 419-8 (S Choudhry 92, A Islam 67, A Rashid 63, W Hunt 49, U Yaqoob 43), Barkisland 219-9 Methley 221-5 (J Laban 46, A Blakey 43), Gomersal 180 (G Hilton 46, N Whitehill 42, O Halliday 5-38) Morley 183-6 (R Jubb 52, R Thomas 41), Treeton 262 (S Drury 156, S Morgan 4-52, F Irfan 3-51) Wakefield Thornes 229 (D Toft 119, V Ogden 3-34, W Street 3-37).

Second round: Woodlands v Mirfield PC, Whitley Hall v Morley, Crossbank Methodists v Townville, Scholes (BL) v New Farnley, Wrenthorpe v Treeton, Kirkburton v Birstall, Moorlands v Hanging Heaton, Methley v Hoylandswaine. Ties to be played May 14.