Perpetual strugglers and last season's wooden spoonists Ben Rhydding find themselves at the giddy heights of fourth in the first Third Division table of the Aire-Wharfe League campaign.

On Saturday they face an Ilkley team who are scratching around for early-season form, knowing that victory would match their total for the whole of last season.

Ben Rhydding's seven-wicket destruction of Addingham last week was based on some excellent bowling by Raheel Zahidi, Payush Patel and Danny Kenna but they might find Ilkley a tougher propostion.

Nick Cockroft's side went past 200 last week against Woodhouse but they are struggling to take wickets with only five under their belt in their first two defeats that see them bottom of the heap.

Bolton Villas, another of last year's bottom three clubs, pulled off a surprise win over Horsforth last weekend, and with Chris Spivey and Sam Lawrence providing a formidable opening attack, they may well prove too strong for Addingham, especially if they can remove Darrell Robinson early on.

The two relegated Horsforth clubs find themselves in the basement just above Ilkley and need to pick up form soon if they are to go back up at the first attempt.

Both face difficult games this weekend, with Hall Park entertaining unbeaten Woodhouse and Horsforth travelling to Illingworth, who have won both their opening games.

Skipton will hope Horsforth can do them a favour, which should allow them to take over top spot if they can win at Thackley.

Of the sides promoted to Division One, Guiseley take an unbeaten record into their game against Kirkstall, who last week made short work of Burley, while Rawdon take on last year's champions Collingham.

Burley face another tough test against early pace-setters Beckwithshaw, while Otley will hope their strikeforce of James Davies and Adam Vale will be too strong for Green Lane.

Steeton should maintain their good start in Division Two when they travel to Tong Park, while Richard Wear's early-season form since signing from Spen Victoria will give Harden confidence for their match against Calverley, whose batting looked fragile against Silsden.

Upper Wharfedale travel to New Rover, while Olicanian take on relegated Follifoot, who are surprisingly still looking for their first win.

Silsden have one of the toughest games of the day against Colton, who have made an impressive start to life in a higher grade.

* The Airedale Junior League open their Joe Lumb Competition season against Sheffield at Eckington CC on Sunday (1.00).

The visitors include four Burley players - skipper Michael Trusswell, wicket-keeper Danny Bryan, Mark Cooper and Ryan Cooper.