MELTHAM kick-started their season with a first-round Cup victory over Kirkheaton, followed by a vital League win over previously unbeaten Micklehurst, much to the delight – and relief – of new skipper Simon Kenworthy.

Certainly officials were fearing the worst for the Mean Lane club with only a couple of weeks to go to the start of the 2009 season, and hardly, if any, appreciable signings on the radar.

Indeed they hadn’t even got a captain in place following the decision of Ainsley Swallow to follow his uncle Ian back to his hometown club of Elsecar, and further handicapped by other late departures which left them struggling to field a first eleven.

Ben Raven-Hill returned from whence he came to Thongsbridge (where he is having a tremendous start to the season), while Alistair Farrell moved the short distance up the valley to Marsden to play with some friends at the Hemplow club, while opening bowler Will Hinchliffe transferred to Golcar.

And two players, earmarked as new recruits, Stephen Lane (who had actually been chosen as skipper) and Richard Haikings, decided late in the day to seek a release from their impending transfer and instead chose to go over the top to Milnrow.

Not surprisingly, that left the Meltham hierarchy looking down the barrel before the first wicket had even been cut!

The saving grace was they did have an overseas player already arranged, and Darren Hinchliffe had finally agreed (after several years persuasion) to return to his home village, and when second-teamer Simon Kenworthy also agreed to step up and take on the captain’s role, the re-building process was under way.

Another two big signings were Zubair Raje (son of the Dewsbury Sports owner) who is English-born and Saif Rehman, who is also English-qualified, while all-rounder Ibrar Hussain had agreed to join from Holmfirth.

“It was certainly a difficult time pre-season, and with such a turnover in players from last year, our first aim has to be to beat the drop,” admitted Kenworthy.

“Obviously getting Daz (Hinchliffe) was a big bonus, because he is a proven opening batsman who has performed well wherever he has played over a long and fruitful career.

“It’s great to have him, and it should be good for him too as both his lads, Jack and Chris, play here in the juniors.

“I’m also delighted with the start our Aussie Jake Thorne has made, having hit 64 against Scholes followed by a ton against Kirkheaton in the Cup, as well as his successes with the ball.”

Thorne comes from the East Ballarat Club, and plays for Victoria State (he also plays Aussie Rules football). This is his second season playing in the UK having been at Messingham Cricket Club in the Lincolnshire League in 2007.

Raje is a quick-scoring left-handed batsman who played last season at Southowram, but was put in touch with the club through Ainsley Swallow, the two men having played trials for Yorkshire together some years ago.

Opening bowler Saif Rehman (who lives in England) made his first appearance in the win over Micklehurst, although he arrived before the start of the season, but having visited Pakistan for a holiday, the League had to scrutinise his papers before accepting his signing, and then he missed a game when his wife gave birth to their first child.

“Both Raje and Rehman look to be very good signings for us (the former already having hit a 70 and a 40, while Rehman took three wickets in the Micklehurst win) so things are starting to look a bit better,” continued Kenworthy, who was appointed skipper only the week before the season started.

“Obviously it was hard having lost so many players pre-season, and one or two of the lads are having to play up from the second team. But we have some very good young players coming through”

One of those young players is Kenworthy’s own son, Luke, who announced his arrival last season with an excellent half-century against the mighty Delph side, and whose 36 proved invaluable during their win over Micklehurst.

“Players like Jack Moulson (son of chairman James), the Palmer twins Chris and Robert (sons of Mean Lane stalwart Howard), George Gaunt and our Luke, are all starting to make their mark.

“At the moment we are an ageing team, but then there are a few of those about the league. We have to get some new, younger faces in, because that is where the club’s future lies.”