RAWDON will start the defence of their Aire-Wharfe League Division One title without two key players.

Ben Morley and George Myers have both gone to test themselves in the Bradford Premier League with promotion-seeking Undercliffe, while Harry Nicholson has returned to Guiseley.

The Larkfield Road side will be under new leadership in Joe Smith, but he will again have overseas player Tyler Willmott as a team-mate, while James Burnett and Carlos Prowse have both joined from North Leeds as optimism grows at Rawdon.

Two of their likeliest challenges will be the perennials of Otley and Burley.

Otley, runners-up in 2022, also have a new first-team skipper in Josh Atkinson, who replaces George Huntley.

Back at Cross Green are Paul Nicholson (from Farsley) and Andrew Rhodes (Ilkley), while pace bowler Zac Parr has made the trip from Australia as Otley bid to make up for, by their own high standards, a disappointing campaign.

Parr is from the Fitzroy Doncaster club, which is where last season’s overseas player Charlie Simondson hailed from.

Visitors to Cross Green will also be met by new facilities in the shape of state-of-the-art nets, a scoreboard and garage.

Burley, fourth last season, will be hoping that the exploits of Harry Brook and Matthew Revis at a higher level can inspire their playing squad.

Jason Wright returns as first-team captain, while Mark Harrison is back after 10 years at Farsley, and Burley, who have suffered a hard winter in terms of members passing away, have a new overseas player in Lachlan Borsboom from Tasmania.

Lashings, the self-styled best cricket club in the world, who stopped off at Ben Rhydding last year, drop in at Burley on Friday, June 30 in one of Hodson Park’s major fundraisers, with the others including a Coronation party.

Peter Mann has had a bench installed in his memory, Barry Normington has had his name put to the first-team bowling trophy and the club bar has been named Ron’s Bar in memory of Ron Clarkson.

Horsforth Hall Park, fifth last season after being promoted, have not only retained overseas player Michael Loubser, this time for a full season, but have East Bierley batter Andrew Duckworth back and have signed Ben Maddison from Nidderdale League club North Stainley.

Addingham, seventh in 2022 and prepared to give their juniors opportunities, will again look to captain Ben Brearley and vice-captain Rick Atkins for leadership and hope to sign an overseas player from New Zealand.

Pool, back in the top flight for the first time since 2019, will once more be led by Charlie Bell and again have the benefit of Kruthik Patel, this time as a UK-qualified player, meaning that they can bring in Abithek Pandya as their overseas.

Opening bowler Sam Lawrence has been recruited from Bolton Villas as Pool target a mid-table finish and another good run in the Waddilove Cup.

Ilkley, relegated in 2022, will again hope that their hybrid pitches provide plenty of run-scoring opportunities, but they will be without Henry Wilson, whose work has taken him to London.

On the flip side they have recruited opening bowler Louis Brown from Bolton Villas, and Australian James Bourke, a left-arm spinner. James Pearson is the skipper.

Green Lane, eighth in Division Two last term, are under the leadership of Danny Husband, with the legendary Tommy Powell as their new president.

Olicanian, uncomfortably close to the bottom in 10th, also have a new skipper in Tom Smallwood, replacing his brother Harry, while overseas player Cooper Robinson has moved across from Addingham.

Incidentally, Denton Road, which has live-streaming facilities in place, will host the inaugural City Blast finals day on Monday, August 28 – a T20 competition for companies throughout Yorkshire.

Horsforth, relegated to Division Three, have given the reins to Matthew Wainwright, last year’s vice-captain, who replaces Alex Wiggan.

Will Joyce has joined New Rover, but there are new recruits who will supplement overseas player, Queenslander Oscar Patch.

Guiseley, who were, in their own words, a disappointing fourth last term, have Nicholson and overseas Aniket Rana, from India, to bolster an already strong batting line-up, led by the award-winning Robert Butterfield.

Menston, mid-table in 2022, will again have Adam Montague-Millar and George Marsden in charge, while Australian Daniel Hill will particularly strengthen the bowling department.

Their pavilion extension will not be finished before the start of the season, however so they ask for understanding.