Jer Lane made an emphatic start to their defence of the Foster’s Halifax League Premier Division title.

They defeated visitors Sowerby St Peters, who won the Roy Smith First Division championship last year, by ten wickets.

St Peters had an opening stand of 35 but then collapsed to 87 all out as Sam Wilson took 6-50 and fellow new boy Simon Collins 2-9.

Raqeeb Younis (62no) and Andrew Pinfield (26no) made short work of their target.

Josh Hutchinson scored 80 in Thornton’s 237-7 at Booth but an opening stand of 229 by Chris Shannon (131) and Rob Laycock (95no) helped the hosts to the spoils by nine wickets.

Amjad Ali was the undoubted star for Queensbury in the First Division.

He hit an incredible 16 sixes in his 146 not out as his side recovered from 61-5, when he came to the wicket, to 249, Josh Dougall chipping in with 42 not out.

Ali then took 4-16 as Outlane were dismissed for 84.

Oxenhope’s Joe Ousey was another centurion. His 135 spearheaded their 370-7 against Clayton, Tom Tetley (83no) and 15-year-old Lewis Hopkinson (60) also being major contributors.

Then Adam Bailey and Liam Dyson shared nine wickets as Clayton were dismissed for 119.

There was no joy for Terry Wynne Division Two champions Low Moor against relegated 2012 champions SBCI. The visitors were bowled out for 135 as SBCI won by six wickets.

Former Craven League club Cullingworth began life in the bottom tier with a comprehensive home victory over Shelf.

Opening bowler Graham Rankin took 6-10 off 11 overs as Shelf were skittled for 81, Rankin then hitting an unbeaten half-century as victory was achieved in 19 overs after the interval.