HONLEY will be seeking a 'three-peat' as they bid to emulate their Holme Valley neighbours Holmfirth in notching three successive League and Cup doubles (achieved in 1975/76/77).

And with that in mind they have recruited a third successive Indian left-arm spinner in Vishal Bhatia who plays for Himachal Pradesh.

He has two hard acts to follow however, after great seasons from Rajesh Pawar and last season from Praveen Gupta, whom Honley wanted back again, but were thwarted by his lack of first class matches which would have brought visa problems.

The League and Sykes Cup holders have also received a bonus with the arrival of Australian Matthew Cox, a friend of Simon Kelly, who has just gained British qualification and is an opening batsman who scored over 1,500 runs last year with Matlock.

They will surely miss the input of Matthew Wood, who they gained several unexpected appearances from last season, but this is a team who know what it takes to win trophies and will almost certainly be there or thereabouts again.

SHELLEY were last season's surprise Premiership package, and have stuck largely with the players who led them to runners-up spot last time.

Popular Sri Lankan Muthu Pushpakumara returns for a second season at Westerley Lane, along with Mohammed Ramzan who both finished in the top-six Premiership batsmen last year.

And the other man to put Shelley in with a shout of the honours is Cambridge University player Matt Friedlander who surpassed his most illustrious teammates and scooped the League's batting prize.

Simon Peacock has taken over as skipper, while Graeme Hurlbatt has stepped down to vice-captain.

Newcomers are Steve Sullivan, from Shepley, who will take on the role of gloveman, while 16-year-old bowler Sam Scott has joined from Cleckheaton.

DELPH & DOBCROSS were never out of the top three all season in 2006 and will almost certainly be in the mix again this summer.

The Saddleworth side have taken on board a new overseas man in New Zealander Mathew Harvie, a 22-year-old 6ft 4in right-arm fast bowler, who plays first-class cricket with Otago.

Harvie's signing is a straight swap for Aussie Kieran Ashby, while the rest of the first team remain much the same as last year.

Top-rated spinner Kamran Mirza is still there, as is leading run-scorer Bruce Cruse and Mike Smethurst, while top wicket-keeper Grant Jones again retains the captaincy.

Lancashire's Kyle Hogg will also play, as and when he is available around his county commitments.

GOLCAR, with a new canny captain and a host of new signings, could well be in the shake-up at both Cup and League level this summer.

Former Scholes skipper Ashley Pamment takes over the reins from Dave Robinson at Swallow Lane, and welcomes Australian top order batsman Mitchell O'Connor, Barkisland's Gary Colman, Broad Oak's Adam France, Castleford's James Sykes and ITALY'S Paolo Girardi.

Brought up in South Africa, Girardi is almost certainly the first-ever Italian-born leg-spinner in the Huddersfield League.

And with leading Drakes all-rounder Steve Whitwam also in the ranks, the new ramped-up Golcar would certainly have looked well worth a flutter, particularly had West Indian paceman Orrell Blackford not changed his mind and given backword at the last minute!

ELLAND have followed Honley's lead by plumping for a tricky Indian spinner, Madhusudan Acharya (they didn't have an overseas player last term) who excelled in the North Staffs League last season when he scored over 1,000 runs and picked up 60 wickets.

Acharya plays for Uttar Pradesh and Vidarbha and bowls right-arm off-break, but is also an early order left-handed batsman.

The other major signing of course, is that of Richard Blakey who has returned to the Elland fold after many successful years with Yorkshire.

Although he played only the occasional game with Yorkshire Seconds last year, Elland will be hoping he has not lost his batting touch and can compensate for losing the very talented Sam Frankland, who has moved into the Bradford League.

SKELMANTHORPE are bringing back one of Huddersfield's former top White Rose players Richard Parker to Lidgett Lane this season.

Parker, who originally played with Honley, before having a spell with Hall Bower, helped Huddersfield win the White Rose Trophy 10 years ago, but has more recently been playing with Harrogate in the Yorkshire League. Indian all-rounder Amit Dani is back for a second season, while Adam Dollive continues as skipper and will again be looking for a big contribution from his pocket battleship Max Joice, who has just returned from a six-month spell in New Zealand.

SHEPLEY are another club to go down the Aussie route, with Sydney all-rounder Trent Copeland moving to Marsh Lane.

Recommended by former Shepley batsman Tim Rees (who will not be returning this season) Copeland played alongside the Lancastrian at the St George club.

A top-order batsman and medium quick bowler, Copeland has represented New South Wales at both cricket - and hockey!

Phil Heaton starts another season as captain, but will not have stumper Steve Sullivan behind the sticks as the latter has moved to Shelley, but will have the Glover brothers, Craig and Danny and Tom Denton (once he has completed a three-match ban) supplying the youthful talent.

SLAITHWAITE have chosen Indian off-spinner Pragyan Ojha as their overseas player for 2007.

The 20-year-old from Hyderabad is impressing in both the Ranji and Duleep Trophy competitions back home and will be an interesting addition at Hill Top.

Batsman John Morris has come over from Delph & Dobcross, where his first team opportunities have been limited, and should get a regular starting spot.

Graham Holroyd has moved a little way up the valley from Linthwaite, while bowler Jason Longmore is coming down the valley from Marsden.

Hill Top fans will also be pleased to see the return of Tristan Jackson, who is back to boost their ranks after enjoying an extended spell in Australia.

LASCELLES HALL are bringing back Nash Stone as their overseas all-rounder (he now lives in Littleborough), as well as having recruited top Huddersfield junior prospect Gurman Randhawa.

Australian Stone played for the Hall in 2005 and had a superb season, scoring almost 1,100 runs, which included one ton, and three more innings when he was dismissed in the 90s, while also claiming 63 wickets, which included three six-wicket hauls. They have also picked up all-rounder Adrian Barbour (another Australian-speaking Brit) from Kirkheaton, while bowler David Redfearn has joined from Kirkburton as the Hall build a useful-looking side, again captained by Craig Horner.

MICKLEHURST have a new captain and a new overseas player following the exit of Bilal Khilji.

Hard-hitting batsman Tom Whittle has taken over as skipper, and he will welcome the arrival of Australian all-rounder Denis Lonergan, as the former Saddleworth League side start only their second campaign in the Drakes Premiership.

Lonergan is a top-order batsman and spin bowler, from hails from Campsey in New South Wales.

Another incoming batsman is ex-Saddleworth clubman Danny Anchor, who is likely to open the innings, and can also bowl, while the league's newest club will also be looking for a big input from talented youngster Greg Buckley, who has just returned from three months at a cricket academy in South Africa.

SCHOLES have retained the services of young South African all-rounder David Smyth, who arrived halfway through last season as a replacement for Abhijit Kale, who failed to impress the Chapelgaters.

Smyth showed one or two glimpses of his batting potential, as well as grabbing an eight-wicket haul against Barkisland and has the potential to play a big role this summer.

David Weston again holds the captain's reins, and will be joined by new up-and-coming signing Nick Sharp, from Clayton West (son of former Yorkshire opener Kevin).

Scholes are predominantly a young side (apart from the captain) but will need their more talented players like James Noble and Matthew Smith firing on all cylinders to keep them in the top half of the table.

Premiership new boys EMLEY CLARENCE are pinning their hopes of staying in the top flight on former Micklehurst all-rounder Bilal Khilji and the limited appearances of Yorkshire opener Matthew Wood.

If the newly-married Wood struggles to find county consistency then Emley would certainly benefit and although unlikely to figure for honours, will surely be strong enough to stay in the top flight.

Khilji is a quality performer and should get both runs and wickets at the Welfare Ground, while Andrew Gregory, who was a big wicket-taker for Emley last season also has top flight experience.

But for some others in the team, this year will be a learning curve, and they will need the experience of captain Simon Sykes and Jon Lee to keep them in the Premiership.

MELTHAM have had a winter of discontent, wondering, whether Ian Swallow would agree to another stint at Mean Lane, which he has eventually rubber-stamped - however, not as skipper - nephew Ainsley is taking on that role!

All-rounder Fida Hussain was to have returned for a second season at the club, but has been refused a permit, while Shahid Hussain has also departed along with Ben Scrivens.

Officials are hoping to have completed the signing of a New Zealand all-rounder, but not in time for the first week of the campaign.

Last season Meltham finished 11th, one place above the relegation zone, and, depending on the quality of their overseas men could find themselves once again in the lower half of the table.

Following the departure of Neil Berry, wicketkeeper Russ Evans has taken over as captain of promoted HALL BOWER.

They were unable to tempt South African Denys Hobson back again this season, and were let down by a Pakistani-born player who changed his mind about moving to the Castle Hill club, going instead to Mirfield.

Instead the Bower are now chasing down visa and permits for Sri Lankan batsman and spin bowler Thusar Madanayaka, although he definitely will not be here in time for tomorrow's launch.

New skipper Evans is also resigned to losing bowler Darrell Sykes for a spell, the dual deaf international is expecting to play soccer for England in the European Cup.

Big players last season were Ben Balicki, Nigel Senior and Ray Bottomley - whether they can achieve similar success in the top flight remains to be seen!