Booth begin title defence with trip to Bradshaw

Parish Cup winners Illingworth St Mary's visit The Arches to take on Copley who have had mixed fortunes since winning the title in 2022 while Thornton, always in the title mix, open with a home match against promoted Luddendenfoot.

The other elevated team, Sowerby St Peter's, after two successive promotions, return to the top flight for the first time since 2019 and visit Shelf Northowram HT, who narrowly escaped the drop last September.

The remaining two fixtures in the division feature contrasting away trips. While SBCI venture down the road to Triangle the Oxenhope players make their longest trip of the season on day one, with a 33-mile round trip to Upper Hopton.

In the First Division, relegated Clayton have been proactive during the winter, recruiting six new players, mainly from Bradford League clubs. It will be interesting to note how they fit in as Greetland visit Baldwin Lane.

Likewise, the other club that dropped from the Premier, Warley & Elland, have also been busy with transfers but their five recruits have all arrived from within the league and they face promoted Mount at Hullen Edge.

There is a local derby at Cullingworth where Oakworth visit, while Low Moor HT entertain Blackley and Great Horton PC visit Mytholmroyd.

Southowram, promoted as champions, have a free date in the 11-team division.

Augustinians have been the most active in the league with transfers, recruiting no fewer than 13 players in a major shake up at the club, following their problems towards the end of last season.

They make the short trip to Bradley & Colnebridge where their recruitment will be put to the test.

The two most westerly teams in the league meet at the Eastwood home of Bridgeholme where Old Town visit, as Queensbury, missing out on promotion at the end of last season, entertain Leymoor.

The remaining clashes come at Stones where Outlane make the trip while, at Sowerby Bridge, visiting Stainland drop down the hill to familiar territory, having played at Walton Street in their resurgent season.

It will be surprising if the Premier Division title does not feature Booth, Illingworth St Mary's or Thornton.

Triangle have recruited well during the winter and may cause those at the top of the table some problems, especially on visits to their tight Grassy Bottom ground.

At the wrong end of the table, it will require sterling performances from the two promoted clubs, Luddendenfoot and Sowerby St Peter's to retain their status and Shelf Northowram HT are likely to be in another relegation battle.

The First Division promises to be the tightest contest.

Clayton's recruitment is likely to prove beneficial and they will be expected to make a quick return to the top flight, while Blackley, Great Horton PC, Mount, Mytholmroyd and Oakworth all have promotion credentials.

Southowram may be the one to watch after their total points haul of 90 per-cent in winning promotion last season and may well feature in the promotion stakes.

Low Moor HT and Warley & Elland appear to be the teams that will be fighting at the wrong end of the table. Trinity appear to be lacking any quality while the Hullen Edge outfit may take the opportunity to blood younger players with a view to the future.

In the Second Division, Queensbury will be desperate to consign last season's nightmare finish to history while Stainland have made some important signings from Golcar, which will strengthen a team that finished mid-table last year.

The dark horses in this division will be Outlane who have also recruited in numbers, from a selection of clubs from Bankfoot to Honley, and also boast the back-up of a considerable junior section.

The two relegated teams Sowerby Bridge and Stones will be just as keen, in a different vein, to turn the tables on their poor 2025.