THe new season got off to a sparkling start in spring sunshine, not least at Rawdon where their match against Steeton ended in a nail-biting tie.

A second wicket stand of 61 between Harry Nicholson (28) and Jake Hodges (37) gave Rawdon a solid start but then wickets started to tumble and it took a last wicket flourish from Ryan Gladwin (49no) and Josh Hobson (18no) to take them to 208-9.

Steeton looked on course until Andrew Doidge (6-34) started to work his magic and they still needed 27 to win off 11 balls when last man Joe Stead joined James Freebury at the crease.

That came down to 21 from a tense final over from Andrew Duckworth but they could only manage 20 despite the efforts of Freebury who finished on 63no from 60 balls.

A half century from skipper James Davies helped Otley to 181 at Bilton before Ricky Halloran (4-35) and Aussie Sam Blake (3-43) dismissed the home side for 151 to give the defending champions a winning start.

Burley, who will also expect to be among the contenders come September, also won, beating North Leeds by 29 runs.

Charlie Davy (61) and Nick Brook (59) put on 116 for the second wicket but there was a bit of a fright as the middle order collapsed, losing five wickets for only one run. However, with Brook (3-40) and Jason Wright (4-47) in good form, North Leeds never looked likely to pass the 213-9 target.

Both Otley and Burley will be aware of the danger of Beckwithshaw who started with a demolition of Guiseley. Alex Lilley picked up 5-8 as Guiseley were skittled out for 74, only Stewart Smith (30) putting up any resistance. Then new signing from Harrogate, Alex Twigg, smacked 13 fours in his 64no as the home side eased home by nine wickets.

Henry Wilson (4-61) and Ron Spivey (3-29) restricted Follifoot to 188 but with only Jibrael Malik (54) showing any form with the bat, Ilkley were bowled out for 129.

Horsforth put down a marker that they are aiming for a second successive promotion with a convincing Division Two win over Thackley.

Gareth Lee (80no) top scored on his first match since moving from Menston as Horsforth reached 229-7 before Andy Robinson (3-30) and Mahir Ali (3-9) dismissed Thackley for 61, both bowlers taking two in two balls.

Aussie Tony Cornwell (56) top scored in Green Lane’s 234-8 with Charlie Swallow taking 5-36. But that was topped by Waleed Akhtar (6-31) as Ben Rhydding were reduced to 174 despite the efforts of Forrest Hamilton (77) and Robbie Miller (43).

Tong Park Esholt could only manage a miserly 78 which allowed Colton to ease home by eight wickets.

Steve Kuhl (5-31) and Rob Ellis (3-34) dismissed Olicanian for 93 in their Division Three clash giving Addingham an easy opening win.

Calverley were set a 221 target by Alwoodley and fell agonisingly six runs short despite some fine batting from Chris Coates (89).

Bardsey looked a transformed side when they raced to 266-3 and even though Manley Dupreez hit 56 in 46 balls on his debut, Silsden were still unable to challenge.

Ed Parker scored 59 in Menston’s 169 and a 5-40 spell from Charlie Parker stopped the challenge of new boys Old Modernians who ended up 16 short of victory.

Bolton Villas had New Rover struggling at 16-2 but they recovered to 283-4 and despite the efforts of Lee Margerison (41) and Luke Stockhill (92), who shared a century stand with Michael Clarke (49), Villas fell 24 short of their target.

James Carlill (3-51 and 37) starred for Hall Park but they still went down by17 runs to Upper Wharfedale.