CULLINGWORTH inserted the home team on their visit to Outlane on the first day of the new Halifax League Second Division season, only to find opener Jordon Croft already hitting form.

Despite losing six partners on his way to 83 runs, they all chipped in with some useful scores as the innings closed at a respectable 220-8.

Cullingworth never really looked like topping that score and while skipper George Fletcher (57) tried to boost the middle order, once he was out at 127-5, the innings did not pick up.

The away side’s 45-over total of 185-9 gave Outlane an opening day 35-run win.

Pre-season Second Division title favourites, Queensbury, were indebted to skipper Oliver Challis (70 not out) for getting them out of trouble at Leymoor.

They found themselves at 48-5 in their reply to the home team’s 99 all out, but Challis’ one-man batting effort proved decisive after Gareth Walker has previously taken 5-44.

Elsewhere in the division, Greetland’s short trip to Rastrick brought a six-wicket win, after they bowled out the visitors for just 111.

Stones thumped Old Town by 10 wickets after skittling them for 47, while Bradley & Colnebridge cruised to a 97-run victory at Southowram.

Oxenhope do not begin their First Division campaign until this weekend, when they host Mount.