Premiership big guns are kept apart in draw for Sykes Cup

JUST about all Premiership teams were kept apart in the opening round of the Huddersfield Cricket League’s Sykes Cup.

Many Championship and Conference teams will be eyeing up shocks with holders Moorlands facing an away tie at third-tier Cumberworth United.

The side they beat in last season’s final, Hoylandswaine, start off their campaign at home to Linthwaite.

Kirkburton’s trip to Broad Oak is the only tie between top-flight teams, which brings former Oak spinner John Keeling back to his former club.

Two-time winners Scholes face a tricky trip to Mirfield Parish Cavaliers, and Ben Raven-Hill returns to his former team as Thongsbridge make the short trip away to Meltham.

Two teams who passed each other at the end of last season have been thrown together as Jedi Championship champions Skelmanthorpe entertain Slaithwaite, who suffered relegation. Golcar, who finished third in the Premiership, should fancy their chances at home to Holmfirth along with Barkisland with the 2015-winners welcoming Championship opposition in Denby.

Three-time winners Delph & Dobcross must negotiate a potential banana-skin at Clayton West and newly promoted Almondbury Wesleyans might not have it easy against another side who tasted promotion, Lepton Highlanders.

Meanwhile, Honley and Armitage Bridge will expect to progress against Conference teams Marsden and Hall Bower respectively.

Shelley v Rastrick, Mirfield Parish Cavaliers v Scholes, Cumberworth United v Moorlands, Clayton West v Delph & Dobcross, Shepley v Lascelles Hall, Broad Oak v Kirkburton, Armitage Bridge v Hall Bower, Marsden v Honley, Emley Clarence v Upperthong, Meltham v Thongsbridge, Almondbury Wesleyans v Lepton Highlanders, Skelmanthorpe v Slaithwaite, Hoylandswaine v Linthwaite, Elland v Thurstonland, Barkisland v Denby, Golcar v Holmfirth.

Hall Bower v Cumberworth United, Upperthong v Shepley, Birkby Rose Hill v Hoylandswaine, Mirfield v Armitage Bridge, Delph & Dobcross v Mirfield

Parish Cavaliers, Linthwaite v Shelley, Slaithwaite v Meltham, Edgerton & Dalton v Barkisland, Lepton Highlanders v

Golcar, Moorlands v Almondbury Wesleyans, Honley v Skelmanthorpe, Kirkheaton v Elland, Denby Dale v

Clayton West, Scholes v HolmfirtH, Kirkburton v Broad Oak, Thongsbridge v Denby.