Holmfirth have signed South African Justin Gamble as their overseas player for the Drakes Huddersfield League season.

The Premiership club – who are in the throes of talks over selling their famous old Bridge Fold ground for supermarket development – have lost all-rounder SP Singh (to Hoylandswaine) and Abdul Ghaffoor (to Marsden) from last year’s roster.

But they hope teenager Gamble – from the well-known Benoni High School in Gauteng – will make an impact, alongside left-hand opening batter Kasir Maroof from Baildon.

Holmfirth have also signed two Yorkshire Pathways players who have been recommended by Amir Rashid – 17-year-olds Abbas Ahmed from Saltaire and Sami Rehman.

“Justin is a left-hand bat and left-arm orthadox spinner from near Pretoria and his record looks impressive,” said Holmfirth committee member Bruce Jakeman.

“He won’t be here for the start of the season (on April 19) because he’s involved in a T20 event in Singapore, but we aim to have him available at the beginning of May.”

Maroof is a left-hand opening batsman and, when they beat Shepley in the Heavy Woollen Cup last season, he scored 48.

Ahmed is a leg-spinner who has played for Yorkshire through the age groups, as has Rehman, an all-rounder who is a medium pace bowler and middle order bat.

“Matt Gummerson will skipper us again and it’s a case of everyone stepping up and doing their bit,” added Jakeman.

“We have got some good young players and we hope they can show what they are capable of.”

Holmfirth are not in the Heavy Woollen Cup, but nine Drakes League clubs are involved when it gets under way on Sunday, April 20.

Draw: Cleckheaton v New Farnley, Pudsey Congs v Wrenthorpe, Shepley v Birstall, Clayton West v Delph, Spen Victoria v Townville, Wakefield Thornes v Methley, Woodlands v Hartshead Moor, Gomersal v Moorlands, Golcar v Liversedge, Skelmanthorpe v Scholes (Central Yorkshire League), Shelley v Ossett, Hanging Heaton v Jer Lane, Scholes (Drakes League) v Kirkburton, Baildon v Slaithwaite, Barkisland v Morley, Mirfield PC v Buttershaw St Paul’s.

There is a preliminary round of the arrowselfdrive Sykes Cup to be played on Sunday April 20 as well, in addition to a preliminary in the Second XI Fired Up Corporation Paddock Shield.

Sykes Cup preliminary round: Kirkheaton v Upperthong, Cartworth Moor v Rastrick, Thurstonland v Paddock, Denby Dale v Armitage Bridge, Cumberworth United v Birkby Rose Hill, Denby v Almondbury.

Paddock Shield preliminary round: Lascelles Hall v Thurstonland, Rastrick v Cartworth Moor, Almondbury v Cumberworth United, Upperthong v Kirkheaton, Linthwaite v Denby, Birkby Rose Hill v Denby Dale

The Sykes Cup first round will be played on Sunday, May 4.

Sykes Cup first round draw: Lepton Highlanders v Marsden, Slaithwaite v Shepley, Cumberworth United or Birkby Rose Hill v Emley Clarence, Shelley v Lascelles Hall, Denby Daleor Armitage Bridge v Cawthorne, Delph & Dobcross v Broad Oak, Hoylandswaine v Thurstonland or Paddock, Almondbury Wes v Skelmanthorpe, Denby or Almondbury v Moorlands, Honley v Holmfirth, Golcar v Clayton West, Kirkburton v Elland, Scholes v Linthwaite, Barkisland v Meltham, Thongsbridge v Cartworth Moor or Rastrick, Kirkheaton or Upperthong v Hall Bower.

On Sunday, May 11, there is a preliminary round of the allroundercricket.com Oddfellows Cup, featuring the four new Drakes League clubs.

Preliminary round draw: Cartworth Moor v Thurstonland, Moorlands v Birkby Rose Hill, Emley Clarence v Lascelles Hall, Denby Dale v Linthwaite, Rastrick v Armitage Bridge, Broad Oak v Clayton West, Denby v Upperthong, Kirkheaton v Hall Bower.

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