CHAMPIONS Oakworth got a big wake-up call when they travelled over the border to Barrowford.

The Red Rose side has been recruiting hard over the winter, and also have two Australians in their line-up. They set a target of 186-6 with Dean Wedding scoring 40 and neil Hargreaves adding 35.

Mick Scarborough, the league's outstanding performer last year, started with 33-49 and followed up with a score of 57 but could not stave off defeat as the Cure Hill side fell 40 short of their target. Ajmal Choudry too 3-24 and John Hargreaves 3-58 as Barrowford secured victory.

Embsay and Thornton, who were second and third last season, met at Shire Lane where the home side had Australian Michael Cox in their ranks. He played an important part in their 52-run victory, scoring 48 as they reached 185. Mark Paxton bowled well for Thornton, taking 5-65.

Thornton looked to be on target as they reached 51 before the first wicket fell but a tail-end collapse saw them dismissed for 133 with Cox taking 4-47.

Long Lee will have two Aussies in their line-up soon but had to make do with Michael Isles from Melbourne on their trip to Foulridge. He scored 61 as the Keighley side, batting first, reached 176.Fourth bowler Tom Stephenson took 6-23 in just eight overs.

The Noyna side scored 92 for the first wicket then lost nine more for just 62 runs as the Keighley side secured victory. John Lickess scored 51 as Paul Swindlehurst took 5-60.

Shock of the day came at Cullingworth where the newly-promoted side were humbled by Haworth. Batting first the home side were dismissed for 65 with Garry Binns, formerly with Denholme, taking 6-13 for Haworth. The Bronte side lost six wickets reaching their target.

Cowling posts 199-6 at home to Skipton CI who knocked them off for the loss of five wickets. Ian Burke scored 69 and Shaun Williamson 67 not out.

Pendle Forest scraped home against Bradley after scoring 197-8. Tim Ruden claimed 4-99 and Andy Smithson scored 48 but Bradley fell just 14 runs short.

Haworth West End were the only winners among the three demoted clubs. They rattled up 206-8 at Glusburn with Tim Welch 76 not out and John Robinson scoring 51. In reply the Sotuh Craven side fell just 24 short. Alan Coney, previously with Long Lee, top scored with 52 as Jason Bilborough claimed 6-57.

Sutton did well to restrict Airedale to 126 at the David Mills ground where Phil Loftus scored 41 and David Holdsworth took 6-21. The reply was destroyed by Michael Quinlan who took six wickets for five runs to shoot Sutton out for 67.

Carleton entertained Ingrow St John's and saw them rattle up 212-5 with Colin Bottomley, 111 not out, scoring the first century of the season. The 10-man Ramper Park side could only muster 112 in reply with S Cox on 44 as Anthony haigh took 4-54.

The day's highest score came at Denholme where the home side plundered 292-9 off Chatburn's attack. Rob Taylor and Gareth Marshall both scored 93 and P Clark chipped in with 58 and John Lockley finished with 5-77. The Ribblesdale side did not waste a superb batting wicket and reached 209 in reply.

Jimmy Nelson's got their season off to a bright start when they plundered 227 at Gargrave and then dismissed their hosts for 65.

Cononley could only reach 110 at home to Ingrow with Tom Palin top scoring on 38 as D Hoyle claimed 7-37. Hoyle followed up with 41 as the Keighley side cruised home by seven wickets.

Third Division champions Oakworth suffered a similar fate to their senior side, going down by 22 runs at home to Barrowford. The Red Rose side made 148 with jason Lockley taking 4-62 and Gary Searby 4-39. Lockley scored 42 of his side's 126 as Pater Hakin took 7-58.

Newly promoted Cullingworth were under the cosh at Haworth. Their bowlers suffered as the home side raced to 280-7 with Adam Balderstone scoring 58, Colin Williamson 51 and David Walsh 51 not out. Two more members of the Balderstone clan, Alan and Ross, chipped in with 34 and 33 respectively. The visitors replied with 160-9 with G Fletcher scoring 49 and N Smith 31 as Walsh took 4-64.

Bradley could only reach 92 at home to Pendle Forest who knocked off the runs for the loss of four wickets.

Long Lee's John Tetley took 7-72 as visitors Glusburn made 145 after struggling to 70-7. The home side were then dismissed for 72 of which Paul McCullough made 31.

Best bowling performance of the day came at Sandylands where Cowling's Nick Ridding took 9-11 which included a hat-trick. Skipton CI were dismissed for 36 and the last batsmen had left to fulfil a work commitment which denied Ridding a possible 10-wicket haul.

Earlier Cowling had posted 167-6 with mark Batty scoring 82 and Vernon Rooke 39.

Embsay plundered 195-5 at Thornton with Briand Hodgson leading the way on 76 not out while Mark Carr scored 45. Thornton were dismissed for 136 despite a half century from Mark Laycock.

Cononley clattered 228-4 at Ingrow with John Tatham reaching 81 and D Mason 89.the nine-man home side were restricted to 138 in reply with Russell Sharp scoring 54 as D Ross took 4-23.

Airedale secured a 93-run victory over Sutton after setting a target of 195-8. Chris Alvey scored 45 for Airedale.

Gargrave enjoyed a 67-run victory over Pendle Forest III with Martin Thompson (6-39) and G Jones (57) top performers.

Keighley Tech lost by just four runs to Fouldrige with John Pankhurst scoring 52 not out and S Adams 40.

Chatburn beat Denholme by 98 runs.

Long Lee's third team made its debut and restricted Ingrow St John's to 92 with Huma Shazad taking 4-12 off seven overs. The young team were dismissed for 60 but showed great promise.