HEMINGBROUGH will begin the defence of their HPH York Vale League title on Saturday without one of last season’s leading performers.

Teenage starlet Tom Collins, together with his brother Dan, has joined Selby where he is expected to play York Senior League cricket.

Collins, the Vale League’s 2009 Drax Power Young Player of the Year, was a key factor in Hemingbrough winning the double last season. His remarkable 150 not out in the last-ball victory against Burn in the HPH Cup final at Burn is regarded as one of the best-ever innings by a Vale player.

Hemingbrough start with a home game against Barmby Moor, who have lost strike bowler Tony Smith to Stamford Bridge.

Copmanthorpe have recruited Alistair Byers from Bolton Percy, Adam Mosley from West Bretton and the free-scoring Salman Syed from relegated University of York Staff, who have lost several players since dropping into division two.

Copmanthorpe begin their premier division campaign at Clifton Alliance on Sunday and may come up against former player Ryan Partington who has switched to the Shipton Road side.

One of the top matches in division two features Hirst Courtney, who won division three last season, at home to Fulfordgate, who finished just above the relegation places last summer. Woodhouse Grange, who were also promoted, will test their division two credentials with a home match against Selby.

Division three will be hard to call this season but North Duffield will be seeking to avoid a third successive relegation season after finishing bottom of the premier division in 2009. Duffield face Goole Town on the opening day, while wicketkeeper Geoff Room may make his debut for Thixendale at last season’s runaway division four champions Malton & Old Malton after his move from Yapham.

Division four outfit Burton Salmon have recruited two men from Wetherby League side Sherburn Eversley – Paul Heseltine and Jordan Richards – and will be hoping they will help propel them to promotion.

Ovington II, who missed out on promotion to division three by just one point last summer start with a trip to Wheldrake II.

Newcomers, Dunnington and Yapham, meet at Common Road in division five on Sunday.

Other moves, which have been completed in the pre-season include Stephen Dale (York to Bishopthorpe), Martin Anderson (Pocklington to Melbourne), Gordon Cooper (Thixendale to York RI), Geoff Room (Yapham to Thixendale), Alan Pearse (Hillam & Monk Fryston to Thorpe Willoughby) and Jake Wild (Hirst Courtney to Thorpe Willoughby).