Division One champions Oakworth got their Craven League campaign off to a cracking start as they beat the rain to inflict a ten-wicket defeat on Thornton.

Around half the scheduled fixtures were able to play to a conclusion and Oakworth made no mistake after rushing out their hosts for just 70.

Matt House took 5-26, before openers Jack Hainsworth (45no) and Ben Fothergill (25no) knocked off the required runs in only 9.1 overs.

Haworth Road have managed to play both their games to date and have won both, the latest being by 56 runs at Crossflatts in the only other top-flight match to survive.

The hosts must have thought the points were in the bag after dismissing Haworth Road for 105 (M Adil 48no, A Saeed 5-45).

But the Crossflatts reply was a disaster as they crumpled to 8-5 and could only muster 49 in total, M Zahid doing the damage with a magnificent 9-26.

Arguably the best team performance of the day saw last season’s Division Three champions Oakworth Seconds mark their Division Two debut with a seven-wicket home success against Pendle Forest.

The visitors posted 196-4 on the back of a superb 103 from evergreen Andy Townsend, who shared a 92-run opening stand with Matthew Lutz.

But a stunning reply saw Steve Hartley and Paul Carter (71) put on 98 for the first Oakworth wicket, before Brannan Lawn (52no) and Olly Stell (21no) completed the job with an unbroken stand of 80.

Steve Carass took 6-44 as Foulridge slumped to 76 all out at Sandy Lane but the hosts then crashed to 54 all out against A Dutton (4-6) and Jon Lambert (4-6).

Cowling’s return to the division got off to a fine start as they smashed visitors Long Lee by 107 runs.

Martyn Dalby made 72 not out as Cowling reached 175-3, before picking up 4-12 as the Keighley side were knocked over for 68.

Karl Samson carried his bat for 93 not out as his Glusburn side made 149-9 at Wilsden (Tom Peirson 5-63).

But the hosts survived a collapse from a comfortable 102-2 to win by three wickets thanks to Peirson’s 50 and an unbeaten 41 from N Singh.

Only two games survived in Division Three, with Barrowford Seconds shooting out visitors Haworth WE for 59 (Paul Carey 5-35, Rob Harris 5-23) after making 140-6 (Nigel Jones 55no).

And Embsay Seconds folded to 95 all out (Andy Maude 7-28) as they fell short of Eldwick & Gilstead’s modest 123 (Simon Holt 4-16).

In Division Four, only Glusburn Seconds and Bradford & Bingley Thirds were able to complete their game, with the latter side winning by eight wickets.

Opener Phil Shackleton carried his bat for 40 not out as N Smith (5-35) restricted Glusburn to 100-9, which proved impossible to defend.

Three games survived in Division Five, the pick of which saw Chatburn Seconds (141-9 – J Shears 61no) edge to a one-wicket win after restricting hosts Denholme Seconds to 140 (M Wear 6-45).

Nine-man Haworth WE Seconds were knocked over for 51 (Ray Jones 4-20) and visitors Cowling sauntered to a seven-wicket victory.

And Gargrave Seconds crashed to an awful 16 all out at home to Sutton Seconds, who lost two wickets for three runs before completing an eight-wicket stroll.