BRADFORD Premier League Championship One sides are hoping for more luck with the weather today after rain dominated yesterday's programme.

One game had no play at all and the other five were abandoned early in the second innings.

While the players of Bankfoot and Keighley were left kicking their heels, Baildon at least had the encouragement of promising performances from two of their new recruits in the home clash with Ossett.

Wicketkeeper Louis Stronach, a close season recruit from Rodley, marked his debut at Jenny Lane with a half-century. He hit three sixes and five fours in a breezy 55 which built on the earlier efforts of Simon Bailey (43) and fellow debutant Dwayne Heke (34) in a total of 223.

Ossett skipper Dan Busfield (4-60) and Mushy Rafique (3-31) posed the main threat with the ball. Blair Oakley claimed an early wicket for Baildon before play was abandoned with the visitors 13-1.

Another player to make an impressive start for his new club was Morley’s Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Akash Senarathna. He took 6-24 as Batley, despite a battling 64 from Sufyan Patel, were bowled out for 139.

Morley will have fancied their chances of a win but the weather had the final say when they were 79-4.

Scholes won’t mind if young Jade Roberts can continue in the form that saw him take 5-35 to restrict newly-promoted Wakefield St Michael’s to 156-8.

Openers Ryan Wilby (35) and Mark Atkinson (34) top-scored for Saints.

Muhammad Rafiq made 32 at the top of the order for Scholes as they progressed to 82-4 before the match was abandoned.

Callum Flynn, Gomersal’s new signing from Swinton Moorside, looked to be steering his side to victory until the weather intervened at East Bierley.

Flynn was unbeaten on 71, an innings containing 15 fours, which saw his side score 110-3 in just 19 overs as they chased East Bierley’s 178.

Richard Wear (3-24) and Paul Wookey (3-70) were the pick of the Gomersal bowlers.

Pudsey Congs were the side most relieved to see the rain. After being restricted to 107-9 by the tight bowling of Mohammed Zulfiqar (5-44) they saw their rivals cruise to 62-0 in 12 overs with Chris Wynd making 32 not out.

Conference

Reece Thompson of Gildersome & Farnley Hill had the distinction of scoring the season's first century as he hit 133 against Rodley.

His captain Richard Bedford also got in on the act with an unbeaten 101 as their side made the day's biggest total of 308-6.

Thompson, who has previously played with New Farnley and Hartshead Moor, smashed five sixes and 16 fours in his 86-ball innings.

He shared a second-wicket stand of 105 with Adam Campion (35) and put on 161 for the third wicket with Bedford, who hit three sixes and 11 fours.

Gildersome's hopes of a resounding opening-day win were shattered when play was abandoned with Rodley tottering on 90-4.

Sandal were the only winners in the Conference as they defeated Heckmondwike & Carlinghow by six wickets. Matthew Westwood led the successful run chase with 92 while Danny Riley hit 42 as Heckmondwike's total of 183 was surpassed in 34.2 overs.

Ryan Bishop-Perrett took the bowling honours with 5-54 while Adnaan Rawat (38) and Umar Qureshi (34) were the pick of the Heckmondwike batsmen.

Oulton's Matthew Boucher narrowly missed out on being the division's third centurion after making 96 in his side's abandoned game at Great Preston.

Boucher hit a six and 12 fours and gained his best support from Ryan Healey (32) as Tyson Freeman (5-78) tried to deliver knockout blows for Great Preston. Cullum Jordan gave him good support with 4-51.

That man Freeman was unbeaten on 33 when rain halted the Great Preston reply at 83-4 after 23 overs.

Tabby Bhatti marked his first game for Windhill & Daisy Hill by taking 4-43 and scoring an unbeaten 52 in his side's abandoned match with East Leeds.

Tom Chapman's unbeaten 53 helped East Leeds to post 172-8, but despite wickets falling around him, Bhatti stood firm as rain came to his side's aid when they were 86-5.

Today's fixtures

Championship One First teams: Wakefield St Michael's v Morley, Ossett v Gomersal, Hartshead Moor v Keighley, Scholes v Bankfoot, Pudsey Congs v East Bierley, Baildon v Batley.

Championship One Second teams: Northowram Fields v Methley, Gomersal v Ossett, Keighley v East Ardsley, Bankfoot v Carlton, Farsley v Bradford & Bingley, Cleckheaton v Undercliffe.

Conference First teams: Azaad v Gildersome & Farnley Hill, Oulton v Brighouse, Crossbank Methodists v East Leeds, Heckmondwike & Carlinghow v Great Preston, Rodley v Sandal. Free: Windhill & Daisy Hill.

Conference Second teams: Gildersome & Farnley Hill v Azaad, Hunslet Nelson v Adwalton, East Leeds v Crossbank Methodists, Buttershaw St Paul’s v Heckmondwike & Carlinghow, Sandal v Rodley. Free: Windhill & Daisy Hill.