THE York Senior Cricket League season gets underway tomorrow with the traditional opening clash between the League champions and the Premier Cup winners.

This time it sees Easingwold entertain Woodhouse Grange (1.30pm start) in a game likely to give an indication of the potential of the two top sides who were only parted by 16 points after Grange almost caught their rivals in the second half of the season.

Easingwold will be without the services of Martin Robinson whose all-round ability and experience will be missed.

The champions have departed from their usual policy of not using an overseas player and have registered Australian player John Hille.

Woodhouse appear to have better championship credentials as they will have the spinning ability of Andrew Bilton, who has returned to Grange after a disappointing season at Harrogate. The youngster will be hoping to rediscover the form which earned him county recognition and will be joined by fellow spinner Chris Pitts, who has moved from Heworth after first appearing at Carlton Towers.

With South African Christian Brandenkamp returning as a recreational overseas player, Grange appear to have a strong chance of lifting the crown in September.

Simon Kellett has moved on from Dunnington but the Common Road side's batting still seems to be strong with last year's leading run-scorer Hamed Khan leading the way. The addition of tall West Indian paceman Kelvin Patterson should make their attack a more potent force.

Hull Zingari are one of 11 clubs in the top two divisions to recruit Australians in Victorian Stephen Buhagier who is a spinner from Essenden.

Sydney-based James Packman follows a long line of successful Aussies at Clifton Alliance and with five first-class games under his belt for New South Wales should help them get competitive totals. He averages 26.70 in first class cricket and has one Sheffield Shield ton under his belt.

Australians will also be taking the field at Malton & Old Malton (David Morgan), Pickering (Sean Stuchbery) and Sessay (David Johnson).

Three premier division clubs, Acomb and the newly-promoted Thirsk and Sheriff Hutton Bridge have opted for home grown players.

The most experienced first-class player, with ten matches, is Jahangir Mirza but the 20-year-old all-rounder will need to perform strongly at Heworth who have suffered a mass exodus of players and relied heavily last year on Ahfaq Ahmed.

Mirza averages 22.33 with the bat and bowls off-breaks but his side are still regarded by many as relegation material as, in addition to Pitts' move to Woodhouse, batting stalwart Dave Simpson has gone to York and Dan Walton and Richard Winterburn are to try their luck at Windhill in the Bradford League.

With a couple of other players also deciding to retire, Heworth appear to have a huge task if they are to avoid relegation.

Thirsk expect to retain their new-found status as they have a fine attack in the form of skipper Dave Towse, the evergreen Barry Petty, Neil Laidlaw and a number of other talented youngsters giving support.

However there is some concern at their Racecourse base about their ability to make winning scores.

Veteran Des Wyrill is recovering from a knee operation and his contribution will be vital as the club steps back into the top grade.

Fellow promoted Sheriff Hutton Bridge are another side full of talented home-grown youngsters but are likely to operate in the lower half, alongside Pickering and Acomb.

  • Other divisions will be previewed next week.