BARKISLAND handed League champions Hoylandswaine a shock defeat as the new Drakes Huddersfield League season got away to a sunny start.

No-one could ever accuse Barkisland skipper Darren Robinson of not leading from the front as the all-rounder notched an opening half-century and then helped knock over the mighty Swaine with a six-wicket haul.

Batting first, the visitors’ opener Alex Kaye hit the day’s top score, before falling just five runs short of a century as the newly-promoted Calderdale boys made 235-9, Don Bandula coming in with five wickets for the hosts.

Promising pace bowler Jonny Whiteoak took out Yorkshire’s Joe Sayers for a duck thanks to a catch behind by Jacob Travis, but otherwise Hoylandswaine were on course in the early stages as Alex Morris made 62 and skipper John Sadler 51.

But after they went the rest followed quickly, Robinson finishing with six for 70 and Chris Greenwood three for 58 to dismiss the Byrom Shield holders for 202.

There was no such joy for the other newly-promoted side Holmfirth as they were bundled out for just 69 by Golcar, for whom Steve Whitwam took five for 16 and Will Hinchliffe five for 38, with only SP Singh resisting, as he made 39.

Whitwam then top-scored with 27 as Golcar won by five wickets.

Scholes won the all-Holme Valley clash as they beat Honley by 14 runs, thanks to 65 from new signing Tom Chadwick and an unbeaten 42 from skipper Tom Brook in a 174 tally.

Essex spinner Tom Craddock made a rare appearance for Honley and claimed five for 70, but the visitors reply faltered and came to an end at 160.

Yorkshire Second-teamer Gurman Randhawa made an excellent start for Kirkburton with both runs and wickets.

Batting first, Skelmanthorpe posted a 190-8 total, Haroon Rashid making 65 with Randhawa taking four for 51.

Randhawa then hit 74, as along with skipper Greg Buckley (55) Burton knocked off the total for the loss of six wickets.

Craig Glover skittled Hall Bower for 64 by taking seven for 28 in an eight-wicket win for Shepley, while Delph & Dobcross made short work of Shelley with Lancashire’s Arron Lilley another seven-wicket performer.

Kevin Hook and Faisal Butt made 62 and 61 respectively as Delph totalled 227-9 despite Mohammed Ullah bagging six for 46, but in reply, Shelley folded to Lilley who finished with seven for 23, with Joe Sykes scoring 43 of his side’s 98 tally.

Chris Kilner scored an unbeaten 62 in Marsden’s 162-7 score as they hosted Elland, for whom Greg Finn top-scored with an unbeaten 55 in a two-wicket victory.

There were a couple of low scores in the Championship, where Clayton West were rolled over for 56 at Linthwaite, for whom Nadeem Ashraf and Asam Raza each claimed five wickets, before the Manchester Road men lost six wickets in knocking off the necessaries.

Lepton Highlanders were also sent back for a meagre 63 at home to Thongsbridge, who went on to win by seven wickets.

Relegated Slaithwaite began their new campaign in the lower division with a two-wicket win at Meltham, Michael Illingworth making 44 in the winning 150-8 total after the home side were held to 149-8.

Broad Oak rattled up the day’s top tally, 252-6 against newly-promoted Cawthorne, with Tom McCreadie firing 78, Max Freeland 58 and Lee Baxter 42.

Rhys Phillips then claimed five for 40 as Cawthorne folded to 141 all out.