Defending champions Crossgates open with a Naylor Premier trip to Brighouse Sports A as the top three divisions of the BRADFORD LEAGUE get under way on Saturday.

Crossgates will be looking to repeat their victory over the same opposition in the West Riding Cup.

Promoted duo Rufford A and Asa Briggs A start with difficult away games against Ladyhill A and Pudsey A respectively.

Eccleshill A host Cross Roads, while Pudsey Littlemoor A open at home to Clayton.

In the Godwin section, Shipley Club A will be looking for a good start at home to Pudsey B as they look for a return to the top flight.

Eccleshill B, who just missed out on promotion last season, start with a difficult match at Wyke A, who are a match for any team on their day. Wyke will need to improve on last year’s disappointing home form if they are to challenge this time.

Cranmore, looking to improve on last year’s fifth place in their second season in the league, kick-off at a weakened Hollies outfit.

Guiseley A, hosting Brighouse Sports B, could well be in the shake-up come the end of the season.

The Observer division sees Hove Edge A looking for a quick return to the Godwin after relegation and they start with a home match against last year’s Bartle section champions Queensbury A.

Newcomers Whitkirk may be an unknown quantity and will certainly have an advantage with their home green, although they open at Drighlington A.

Heckmondwike finished third last season and could well have a chance this time. They start at Peel A.

FULL FIXTURES – Naylor Premier: Ladyhill A v Rufford A, Eccleshill A v Cross Roads, Pudsey A v Asa Briggs A, Pudsey Littlemoor A v Clayton A, Brighouse Sports A v Crossgates.

Godwin: Guiseley A v Brighouse Sports B, Greengates A v Pudsey Littlemoor B, Shipley Club A v Pudsey B, Wyke A v Eccleshill B, Hollies S&SC v Cranmore.

Observer: Peel A v Heckmondwike, Horsforth Woodside A v Crowghyll A, Asa Briggs B v Hightown, Drighlington A v Whitkirk, Hove Edge A v Queensbury A.

Bartle: South Leeds Cons v Harold Club, Clayton B v Tyersal A, Wibsey A v Pudsey C, Harold Park v Eccleshill C, Rufford B v Ladyhill B, Hipperholme & Lightcliffe v Cleckheaton Moorend.

Haigh: Stanningley v Wyke B, Oakenshaw A v Brackenhill, Bradford Moor A v Bowling A, Royd House v Peel B, West Bradford A v Cleckheaton Sports A.

Riley: West Royd v Armley Cons, Thornton v Wibsey B, Crowghyll B v Greengates B, Shelf A v Guiseley B, Queensbury B v Horton.

Field Packaging: Bailiff Bridge A v Wibsey C, Asa Briggs C v Oakenshaw B, Lister v Horsforth Woodside B, Rufford C v Guiseley C, Cleckheaton Sports B v Peel C.

Mellor: Bowling B v Bradford Moor B, Salts v Shipley Club B, Tyersal B v Bowling C, Wibsey D v Bailiff Bridge B, Queensbury C v West Bradford B.

* Yorkshire Ladies opened their COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP campaign with a 484-348 victory over South Staffordshire.

The home match at Linthwaite Hall BC saw Yorkshire card ten winners, with Meltham duo Karen Gant and Jacqui Roper both finishing 21-7 up as their team triumphed by 74 points.

In the away match at Amery BC, near Wolverhampton, Yorkshire matched the home team’s ten winners to earn a 62-point verdict. Amanda Hagen (Ossett Flying Horse) was the pick of the players with a 21-8 victory, ably assisted by Laura Middleton (New Mill) and Debbie Davis (Pudsey) with 21-9 efforts.

Next up for Yorkshire is a Roses clash with Lancashire on Sunday, May 6.

Home – Yorkshire 235, South Staffordshire 161 (Yorkshire players): Linda Gledhill (New Mill) 21-11, Ann Hinchliffe (Lockwood Cons) 11-21, Julie Best (Marsh Utd) 14-21, Marie Lockwood (New Mill) 21-17, Alicia Ormsby (Meltham) 21-10, Judi Hollingworth (Meltham) 21-13, Lynn Carter (Cowcliffe Libs) 21-11, Karen Gant (Meltham) 21-7, Jean Gee (Marsh Utd) 21-11, Lynda Drury (New Mill) 21-18, Andrea Buckley (New Mill) 21-14, Jacqui Roper (Meltham) 21-7.

Away – South Staffordshire 187, Yorkshire 249 (Yorkshire players): Dawn Bray (Ossett Flying Horse) 21-20, Pauline Wilde (Lockwood Cons) 21-19, Amanda Hagen (Ossett Flying Horse) 21-8, Louise Whiteley (Hove Edge) 21-18, Marjorie Haigh (Heckmondwike) 19-21, Karen Hill (Hanging Heaton) 21-14, June Johnson (Ossett Flying Horse) 21-17, Debbie Davis (Pudsey) 21-9, Alexis Lunn-Gadd (Morton House) 21-11, Laura Middleton (New Mill) 21-9, Helen Gilroy (Eccleshill) 21-20, Suzanne Howarth (New Mill) 20-21.

* The semi-finals of the WEST RIDING CUP and PILLING CUP are being played on Friday, with Pudsey BC and Crossgates both in with a shout of a double.

Lower Hopton A face Pudsey A at Rastrick in the West Riding Cup, while Crossgates A take on Mirfield Old Bank A at Cleckheaton Sports.

In the Pilling Cup, Cleckheaton Sports A tackle Crossgates B at Harold Club and Ossett Flying Horse play Pudsey B at Spen Victoria.

West Riding Cup, quarter-finals: Shipley Club 183, Lower Hopton A 244; Pudsey A 233, Elland C&BC 181; Brighouse Sports A 198, Crossgates A 230; Mirfield Old Bank A 240, Clayton A 151. Semi-final draw: Lower Hopton A v Pudsey A, at Rastrick; Crossgates A v Mirfield Old Bank A, at Cleckheaton Sports (top).

Pilling Cup, quarter-finals: Hightown 206, Cleckheaton Sports A 227; Eccleshill 216, Crossgates B 221; Hollies S&SC 178, Ossett Flying Horse 245; Pudsey BC B 215, Greengates B 201. Semi-final draw: Cleckheaton Sports A v Crossgates B, at Harold Club; Ossett Flying Horse v Pudsey B, at Spen Victoria (bottom).

* Clubs are reminded that May 1 is the deadline for entries to the HOWARTH CUP, the PAIRS KO and the FOUR-A-SIDE KO. Contact John Preston on 07746-716183 for entry details.