The Huddersfield Cricket League has released both its league and cup fixtures for next season.
Firstly to the league and newly-promoted Skelmanthorpe and Almondbury Wesleyans will renew acquaintances after being pitched against each other in the opening round of fixtures for the 2022 season.
Champions Skelmanthorpe will visit Kaye Lane before then hosting the team they knocked out of the Sykes Cup at the quarter-final stage last season, Broad Oak. Meanwhile Wesleyans will entertain Delph & Dobcross on matchday two.
In the opening day’s fixtures on April 16, champions Hoylandswaine travel to Armitage Bridge before welcoming Barkisland on April 23.
Moorlands, who became the closest team to knock Hoylandswaine from their perch last season, start their 2022 campaign at Riley Lane, home of Kirkburton before they themselves face Armitage Bridge who have a tough pair of fixtures to start off the season.
Elsewhere there is a local derby as Honley makes a short journey to Thongsbridge. Golcar, who enjoyed an excellent 2021, will begin the new campaign by welcoming Scholes to Swallow Lane. Meanwhile Barkisland start at home to Broad Oak and Shepley hit the road away at Delph & Dobcross.
The Championship
Emley Clarence, whose sublime late season form saw them claim promotion, host Lascelles Hall in their first Championship fixture since 2014.
Lepton Highlanders, who instantly bounced back at the first time of asking, journey to Holmfirth.
The two relegated sides from the Premiership are both on the road with Mirfield Parish Cavaliers taking on Clayton West and Slaithwaite visiting Shelley.
Hoylandswaine 2XI who have won the Conference for the past two seasons are at home to Hall Bower.
The Sykes Cup
Just about all the Premiership teams were kept apart in the opening round of the Sykes Cup.
Many Championship and Conference teams will be eyeing up shocks with holders Moorlands facing an away tie at third-tier Cumberworth United.
2021 runners up Hoylandswaine, start off their Sykes Cup campaign at home to lowly Linthwaite. Kirkburton’s trip to Broad Oak is the only tie between top flight teams which brings former Oak spinner and 2021’s league winning bowler John Keeling back to his former club.
Two-time winners Scholes face a tricky trip to Mirfield Parish Cavaliers and Ben Raven-Hill returns to his former team as Thongsbridge make the short trip away to Meltham.
Two teams who passed each other at the end of last season have been thrown together as Jedi Championship champions Skelmanthorpe entertain Slaithwaite who suffered relegation in contrasting circumstances.
Golcar, who finished third in the Premiership, should fancy their chances at home to Holmfirth along with Barkisland with the 2015 winners welcoming Championship opposition in Denby.
Greg Wood’s Shepley will also face a team from the second division in Lascelles Hall. Three time winners Delph & Dobcross must negotiate a potential banana-skin away at Clayton West and newly-promoted Almondbury Wesleyans might not have it easy against another side who tasted promotion Lepton Highlanders.
Meanwhile, Honley and Armitage Bridge will expect to progress against Conference teams Marsden and Hall Bower respectively.
The full draw is as follows: Ties to be played on Sunday May 1 with a reserve date of the following Sunday, May 8.
Shelley v Rastrick
Mirfield Parish Cavaliers v Scholes
Cumberworth United v Moorlands
Clayton West v Delph & Dobcross
Shepley v Lascelles Hall
Broad Oak v Kirkburton
Armitage Bridge v Hall Bower
Marsden v Honley
Emley Clarence v Upperthong
Meltham v Thongsbridge
Almondbury Wesleyans v Lepton Highlanders
Skelmanthorpe v Slaithwaite
Hoylandswaine v Linthwaite
Elland v Thurstonland
Barkisland v Denby
Golcar v Holmfirth
Paddock Shield
Skelmanthorpe 2XI expect to face a tough inquisition in their defence of the Paddock Shield after they were drawn away at Honley. The self-named ‘Shat Bangers’ who defeated Hoylandswaine in last season’s shock final win will need to find similar resolve in this tie between two sides expected to be challenging for the Premiership Two title.
Beaten finalists Hoylandswaine will expect to have it all their own way as they visit Birkby Rose Hill who lie four divisions apart. Scholes will enjoy a derby match at home to Holmfirth and Thongsbridge, newly promoted to Premiership Two entertain Denby.
Broad Oak, who have won the shield more times than any other club (13), make the trip to Kirkburton in a reverse of the Sykes Cup fixture between the respective side’s 1XI teams. The sides met in the Paddock Shield final in 2018 with Kirkburton emerging triumphant.
The full draw is as follows: Ties to be played on Sunday May 1 with a reserve date of the following Sunday, May 8.
Hall Bower v Cumberworth United
Upperthong v Shepley
Birkby Rose Hill v Hoylandswaine
Mirfield v Armitage Bridge
Delph & Dobcross v Mirfield Parish Cavaliers
Linthwaite v Shelley
Slaithwaite v Meltham
Edgerton & Dalton v Barkisland
Lepton Highlanders v Golcar
Moorlands v Almondbury Wesleyans
Honley v Skelmanthorpe
Kirkheaton v Elland
Denby Dale v Clayton West
Scholes v Holmfirth
Kirkburton v Broad Oak
Thongsbridge v Denby
