PRIZE-WINNING batsman Chris Woodhead played a starring role as Premiership champions Honley got their 2013 campaign off to a winning start against Scholes.

Phil Birkhead with the day’s top score of 83, and Ash Pamment (42) had steered Scholes passed the 200 mark, with Woodhead and young Alec Jakeman each claiming three wickets.

But it was Woodhead’s contribution with the bat which proved the decisive factor as he hit 70, backed up by Jimmy Green (38) and Alan Cawtheray (36no) to lead Honley home by five wickets.

Armitage Bridge had a good win at Elland, where Jonathan Speight fired an unbeaten 43 and Chris Hinchliffe (37) in an eight-wicket victory after Mark Williamson (3-12) and Irfan Nazir (3-35) had knocked over the Hullen Edgers for 112 out of which Ben Speak made 42.

In the Championship, newly-promoted Lepton Highlanders managed to put out a second string at Emley, where they were indebted to a half-century from Keiran Bowers to give them a total.

The remarkable thing is that Bowers doesn’t play cricket, but just stood in to help the club out and finished with a debut knock of 57, while his teammates folded to Simon Lewis who claimed six for nine before Clarence knocked off the total with just one wicket down.

The day’s top bowling performance came from Hall Bower’s Danny Moss who bagged seven wickets for just eight runs as Shepley were sent back for 141, in which Gary Bradley made 65 and Stuart Greaves 39.

Moss then struck 43 as the Bower won by four wickets.

Lowest score of the day was at Shelley, where the home side were skittled for 46, Steve Broadbent taking three for 22 as Delph & Dobcross completed a nine-wicket stroll.

In the Conference, there was a rude awakening for the four new clubs, as all of them suffered opening day defeats.

Denby were shot out for 56 at home to Almondbury, Moorlands went down by 10 runs at home to Linthwaite (Lee Renwick picking up five wickets and scoring 38), Denby Dale were bowled out for 97 at Thongsbridge, losing by seven wickets.

And Almondbury Wesleyans were beaten at Paddock, where they made 172-9 but couldn’t overhaul the home side’s 191-9.

PREMIERSHIP TWO

Barkisland 97 (J Colman 28; D Lockwood 4-23, J Holmes 3-35) Hoylandswaine 186 (R Copley 60, S Marsh 28; J Colman 3-12, B Schofield 4-34).

Cawthorne 77 (G Taylor 4-8, D Taylor 3-16) Broad Oak 175 (A Keeling 38, S Mee 25, N Shaw 29, N Howard 26; A Kaye 3-27, B Rayner 3-49).

Elland 112 (B Speak 42; I Nazir 3-35, M Williamson 3-12) Armitage Bridge 114-2 (C Hinchliffe 37, J Speight 43no).

Golcar 90 (C Allen 3-23, I Whiteley 4-8) Holmfirth 132 (B Thornton 41, M Bashir 46; C Chapman 4-26).

Honley 203-5 (C Woodhead 70, J Green 38, A Cawtheray 36no) Scholes 202-8 (P Birkhead 83, A Pamment 42; C Woodhead 3-36, A Jakeman 3-37).

Skelmanthorpe 155-7 (A Dollive 33, J Dollive 39; J Carrington 3-23, R Kettlewell 3-8) Kirkburton 105 (D Lindley 37, B Jebson 29; A Steers 4-24, J Hinchliffe 3-14).

Slaithwaite 65-2 Meltham 64 (T Healey 4-13).

CHAMPIONSHIP TWO

Clayton West 105-3 (D Baxter 38, R Kaskiewicz 35no) Marsden 104 (G Ackroyd 27; P Rigby 4-27, Z Hodder 3-6).

Emley Clarence 89-1 (U Siddique 54no) Lepton Highlanders 88 (K Bowers 57; S Lewis 6-9).

Hall Bower 142-6 (B Robshaw 29, D Moss 43, A Crane 35; C Cox 3-31) Shepley 141 (G Bradley 65, S Greaves 39; D Moss 7-8).

Shelley 46 (S Broadbent 3-22) Delph & Dobcross 50-1.

CONFERENCE TWO

Denby 56 (A Malik 4-15, D Burns 4-9) Almondbury 57-5 (J Buckley 25).

Moorlands 107 (J Galindo 27; L Renwick 5-26, J Fernyhough 3-19) Linthwaite 117 (L Renwick 38, A Hafeez 27; D Pauley 5-41).

Cumberworth Utd 105-5 (R Greaves 26no) Kirkheaton 104 (T Gledhill 36; C Wilks 3-31, R Smith 3-15).

Lascelles Hall 142-1 (R Shaw 77no, C Bullock 34) Rastrick 138-6 (C Jowett 46no, N Marsden 53).

Paddock 191-9 (T Sajid 35, U Siddiq 61, M Booth 27; D Hales 4-65) Almondbury Wes 172-9 (M Shaw 39, D Hales 38, L Jackson 28; P Metcalfe 6-39).

Thongsbridge 101-3 (M Bridge 61no) Denby Dale 97 (D Firth 30; R Kirk 4-17).