A STRENGTHENED Stamford Bridge CC are looking forward to trying to top last season’s successes, starting tomorrow at Woodhouse Grange.

Last year’s Hunters ECB Yorkshire Premier League North runners-up opened their 2018 account with a convincing five-wicket home victory over Harrogate last week.

Ryan Gibson starred with the bat, hitting 91 off just 77 balls, while the new recruit from Hull, Chris Grey, was active in the field, taking two catches.

Woodhouse Grange, meanwhile, fell just 14 runs short at Sheriff Hutton Bridge despite the efforts of Tom Young, who took 4-41.

Alongside a second-placed finish last year, Stamford Bridge also won silverware in the form of the Rudgate Brewery Yorkshire Leagues Knockout Cup.

Because of this, and the quality of Saturday’s hosts, captain Matt Beckett has admitted both the side’s long-term and short-term aims will be a challenge – but on the strength of performances on and off the field recently, he is optimistic of success.

Beckett said: “Woodhouse Grange always play really well at home – they’re a difficult side to play against there – and they also recruited well. They’ve got some fantastic players.

“We’re pleased with how our recruitment has gone, we’ve managed to bring in a few new players in to help strengthen us.

“There’s batsman Chris Grey, who had an excellent year at Hull, and Adam Sutcliffe who also did well last year at Dunnington, albeit in the division below.

“Our preparation pre-season, like all the other teams, was hit by poor weather but we had good games the weeks before against Driffield and Barnard Castle.

“It was a really, really positive result (against Harrogate). We played really nicely.

“Last season was very successful. We came second in the league to York, which went right down to the final game, and we managed to win the league cup.

“That success will be difficult to match, but we’re in a better position going into this season than last, so if we all perform well, there’s no reason we can’t challenge in all competitions.”

Ollie Bocking will play his first game for the side, coming in for Will Rhodes who is on County Championship duty for Warwickshire against Derbyshire.

Sheriff Hutton Bridge tomorrow visit Clifton Alliance who are looking for their first win this season after a 33-run defeat at Scarborough last Saturday.

Acomb are looking to improve their work as a team when they host Driffield tomorrow.

Driffield beat Castleford by six wickets last week while Acomb were downed by newly-promoted Sessay.

Acomb captain Joe Dale said: “Our fielding performance was good and we bowled well.

“We’ve got quite a young side and a few new faces, so we’re working on getting people playing together and team cohesion.

“We’re looking at putting partnerships together and applying ourselves at the crease.

“Our aim is to stay in the league and get as high as possible. We know we’re not going to be title-contenders, but we’ll be pushing towards mid-table.”

The overseas leg-spinner Darcey O’Connor acquitted himself well last week while Acomb will also be boosted by the arrival of all-rounder Ollie Collins.

Sessay’s next Premier League challenge will be at Clifton Park against last season’s champions York, who romped to nine-wicket victory at Yorkshire Academy last week.