OPENING day in the Drakes Second XI competition was dominated by a couple of youngsters and one `golden oldie.'

Last season's Cedar Court champions Broad Oak, carried their winning form into the Premiership despite missing captain Will Metcalfe, who suffered a pre-season broken leg on the football field.

The attention quickly switched to 16-year-old Ben Burnett, who scored a wonderful maiden century, finishing with 120, while another Under 17 Oliver Taylor remained unbeaten on 40 in the Oak's 239-6 total.

Meltham were bowled out for 215, John Forrest taking four for 49.

The other junior to hit the headlines was 17-year-old Ben Dyson of Skelmanthorpe who steered his side to a one-wicket win over Thongsbridge.

When 12-year-old Jordon Greaves walked to the wicket as Skelmanthorpe's last man with 31 needed from 24 balls, the odds were heavily in favour of a Thongsbridge win, but Dyson and his younger partner held firm with Dyson hitting a six off the penultimate delivery to finish unbeaten on 75.

Chris Payne was the `veteran' who was quickly back in the groove, the Slaithwaite stalwart scoring exactly 100 not out to lead his side to an eight-wicket win over Barkisland.

The day's other century-maker was Kirkburton's James Mellor, who registered 101 before being stumped to give occasional bowler Andrew Pritchard seven wickets for Kexborough.

PREMIERSHIP TWO

Barkisland 182 (P Rothwell 30, D Sykes 27, C Thompson 68; T Simpson 5-32) Slaithwaite 183-3 (Keeling A 34, C Payne 100no).

Broad Oak 239-6 (B Burnett 120, O Taylor 40no) Meltham 215 (B Shaw 43, H Palmer 47, A Wilson 27; J Forrest 4-49).

Delph & Dobcross 65 (I Whiteley 3-19; P Birkhead 5-15) Holmfirth 68-3 (P Watmough 25)

Elland199-5 (G Finn 27, T Lyons 47, J Firth 54no, Al Steers 28) Scholes 195-8 (M Wimpenny 63, J Sykes 57, C Marsh 37, Ad Steers 4-33).

Shelley 247-8 (D Greaves 51, G Eastwood 82; J Hinchliffe 3-42) Honley 270-7 (R Gardner 33, S England 58, A Cawtheray 78, Z Ahmed 71).

Shepley 198-7 (S Greaves 47, J Ardron 45, A Brothers 25; M Lilley 3-19) Micklehurst 201-7 S Bingley 78no, M Brylowski 27; S Greaves 3-31)

Skelmanthorpe 195-9 (R Jagger 26, S Harthill 39 B Dyson 75no; K Malcolm 4-39) Thongsbridge 189 (T Booth 33, R Kirk 41, M Gummerson 40; D Barber 3-28, A Clarkson 3-19).

CEDAR COURT TWO

Clayton West 122-6 (A Thornhill 52; S Gill 3-31) Golcar 124-6 (Dav Woodhead 27, E Szostak 33).

Kexborough 119 (G Rhodes 51no; J Lockwood 3-18, J Ingham 4-32) Kirkburton 254 (J Ingham 42, J Mellor 101, T Clark 27; A Pritchard 7-52).

Lepton Highlanders 115-3 (P Baxter 29, S Mulhall 64no) Almondbury 110 (J Halstead 29, A Hanson 26; M Long 3-29, I Cooper 3-29).

Marsden 111 Lascelles Hall 113-3 (D Taylor 48no).

FRANK PLATT TWO

Armitage Bridge 168-6 (A Hill 52, B Jenkins 39, J Moorhouse 29no; M Waqas 4-25) Paddock 131 (M Waqas 48, M Booth 26; M Webb 4-21)

Emley Clarence 252-5 (S Lewis 56, J Tedder 58, D Onions 70no, S Capewell 29) Kirkheaton (G Morris 28, S Beaumont 54, A Slack 33; D Onions 3-24, A Moores 3-38)

Rastrick 177-8 (J Marsh 49, A Bottomley 36no; D Moss 3-48, R. Bottomley 3-21) Hall Bower 107 (D Moss 34 ; M Shakir 3-24).