YORKSHIRE were opening their Championship season at Headingley today, keen to avenge the embarrassing defeat when they last came up against Essex three years' ago.

Having just become county champions for the first time in 33 years in the 2001 season, Yorkshire were eager to finish on a high note in front of a partisan crowd at Scarborough.

Essex set them 319 to win in a game earlier hit by rain and Yorkshire's chances dipped when openers Matthew Wood and Chris Taylor were dismissed before a run had been scored.

The pendulum swung the other way as Michael Vaughan (113) and Anthony McGrath (70) thrashed 204 together for the third wicket but their former Yorkshire team-mate, Paul Grayson, then got rid of both of them and finished with career-best figures of 5-20 as Yorkshire went down by 51 runs.

Yorkshire on that occasion were demob happy and fielding a much weakened team but they are as strong as they can be for the curtain-raiser and relegated Essex are a side they should beat if they are going to gain the promotion which so disappointingly eluded them last season.

Speaking at yesterday's opening luncheon at Headingley, new president David Jones, chairman of Next, said that director of cricket David Byas was confident the club had got a squad of talented players.

That being so, strong leadership and good support would also help to bring success as it had done for England in winning the rugby union World Cup and for England's cricketers in the recent Test series in the West Indies.

Yorkshire chairman Robin Smith hinted that further redevelopment could be on its way at Headingley.

He told Councillor Alison Lowe, Deputy Lord Mayor of Leeds: "We have got big plans. A trip to City Hall to discuss them would not surprise me before very long."

Leg-spinner Mark Lawson received the Jack Copcutt Trophy for being the most improved player last season and young paceman Tim Bresnan received the Denis Compton Trophy, an award he also won the previous year.

Updated: 11:36 Wednesday, April 21, 2004