NEWLY-promoted Emley Clarence got their first Second XI Premiership campaign off to a winning start when they edged out Shepley by just one wicket.

And it was former first-team favourite Ken Taylor who was one of the heroes after he made a vital unbeaten 12 runs to steer his side home, having earlier taken three wickets to complement four from Alex Moors.

Nick Wilson (40) and Gareth Ferguson (46) had earlier set up Emley’s winning run-chase.

The other two promoted sides, Armitage Bridge and Broad Oak were not quite so convincing, both being soundly thrashed by Golcar (10 wickets) and Slaithwaite (8 wickets) respectively, where in the latter game, the returning Matthew Payne pulled off three stumpings in four balls from Joah Bradley.

Premier champions Kirkburton coasted to a seven-wicket win over Elland, while another wicketkeeper Malcolm Potter enjoyed a good match for Kexborough, where after top-scoring with 60 against Lepton Highlanders, he then pouched five catches behind the sticks.

Although on the losing side, 14-year-old Zac Landon scored his maiden half-century for Linthwaite in the Conference loss to Rastrick, while by far the day’s top effort with the bat came from Hall Bower’s Jason Greenway, who cracked an unbeaten 150 against Almondbury.

PREMIERSHIP II

Shepley 147 (A Carter 52, S Greaves 29no; A Moors 4-35, K Taylor 3-30) Emley Clarence (G Ferguson 46, N Wilson 40; A Davis 4-32, R Denton 3-20).

Slaithwaite 87-2 (H Jones 30) Broad Oak 86 (S Burluraux 37no; C Payne 4-7; J Bradley 4-30).

Golcar 113-0 (A Iqbal 76no, U Ali 25no) Armitage Bridge 112 (C Parr 28; R Hall 3-19, J Hendy 3-32, M Brook 3-8).

Kirkburton 208-3 (D Greaves 79no, M Smith 53, G Eastwood 36) Elland 204-6 (A Rowles 87no, J O’Connell 40).

Marsden 168-3 (J Smith 77no, R Clarke 55no) Scholes 162 (T Boorman 53, P Birkhead 31, J Bryson 33).

Honley 237-4 (C Woodhead 74, S England 71, D Brooke 29) Skelmanthorpe 93 (D McDermott 42; R Mills 5-21).

Barkisland 143-6 (S Finch 53no, D Tyer 31; I Whiteley 5-22) Holmfirth 142-9 (A Gawthorpe 5-39).

FRANK PLATT

CHAMPIONSHIP II

Kexborough 172 (M Potter 60, D Thomas 26; J Zafar 4-28) Lepton 104 (J Zafar 37; A Greaves 4-11).

Meltham 131-3 (R Parker 43no, J Moulson 37, C Earnshaw 29no) Micklehurst 127 (B Downend 92; C Earnshaw 4-16, G Gaunt 3-30).

Thongsbridge 192-4 (N Webster 73no, D Whiley 35) Hoylandswaine 147-6 (P Youell 85no).

CEDAR COURT CONFERENCE

Linthwaite 125 (Z Landon 52no, D Barker 31; A Bottomley 6-13) Rastrick 126-5 (A Pearson 43; D Barker 3-44).

Hall Bower 237-6 (J Greenway 150no, T Collier 30; D Russell 4-49) Almondbury 87 (W Latif 38; M Beaumont 4-36, J Hussain 4-40).

Shelley 161 (T Jones 25; C James 4-35, J Hawke 3-34) Clayton West 162 (D Baxter 46, D Wood 25; A Murfin 6-35).

Paddock 209-5 (B Walsh 68, R Hions 55, M Ahmed 31no) Lascelles Hall 97 (D Hanley 26no; S Mohammed 5-8).