With new sponsors Cargo on board, the Huddersfield Bowling League launches it’s most important season for some time on Saturday.

It was agreed by clubs during the winter that as from 2016, in an effort to increase competitiveness, the 12-man team Cups would be reduced to 10 teams per Cup, playing each other twice each year.

These Cups will be based on where each team finishes the 2015 season – so it is particularly important this year where all teams finish in the various sections.

To adapt a phrase from another sport, every minute counts!

At the top of the pile, it is again difficult to look beyond either current champions Netherton Con or Thongsbridge C&BC to take out the Subscription Cup, although no doubt Lower Hopton WMC and Canalside Sports may well feel they at least will have something to say about that.

The Drayton Cup should surely find Spen Victoria having a stronger season than last year and competing strongly with the three teams relegated from the top flight.

However, Penistone Sports, promoted from the Littlewood Cup, may well surprise a lot of teams and come through the middle as they have certainly strengthened this year.

In the Littlewood Cup, Linthwaite Hall look a strong bet for the top after their relegation last year, although fellow relegated team Lindley Lib B cannot be discounted.

Bradley & Colnebridge, however, are another club with much recruitment and look strong enough to be the team to beat.

The Ingham Cup has been put aside for this season so the remainder of the 12-man teams are competing in the Bamforth Cup.

Lowerhouses Community BC can surely make their relegation count and have a good run at this Cup, but danger is certainly lurking from the likes of Moldgreen Con B and Paddock I&C.

In the 10-man team Beaumont Cup, expect Thorpe Green B&SC, Cleckheaton Sports B and Paddock C&BC to be round about, with Rastrick BC B also looking to have a strong claim.

Thongsbridge C&BC have raised a C team at the last minute and will be taking the place of the “bye” in the Beaumont Cup fixtures. Full details have been sent out to the clubs concerned.

The 8-man team Cups have 10 teams in each this year and they both look to have plenty of competition for the top.

Elland CA&BC and Newsome Community BC B should go well again in the Binns Cup, but Slaithwaite C&BC B and new team Lower Hopton WMC C will certainly be giving them a run for their money.

Finally, the Taylor Cup may well have Dalton C&BC and Elland WMC as frontrunners, with pressure coming perhaps from Almondbury Lib C.