NOT even the magic of Duckworth Lewis Stern could conjure a result in the Premier Division as rain proved to be the winner on the opening day of the All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League season.

There wasn’t a ball bowled in the game between champions Pudsey St Lawrence and Methley at Tofts Road while the remaining five games were abandoned before the critical 20-over mark that enables DLS to determine the outcome.

It made for a frustrating afternoon but at least there were some fine bowling performances to cut through the gloom.

The best figures came from Hanging Heaton paceman David Stiff. He took 6-37 at Red Lane where his side restricted Farsley to 131-8 in a 29-over contest.

Ryan Cooper was the one Farsley batsman to establish himself as he struck three sixes and five fours in an enterprising 59.

Hanging Heaton were progressing nicely and had scored 80-1 from 16 overs when the heavens opened. Opener Nick Connolly was unbeaten on 35 when play was abandoned.

Much-fancied New Farnley looked in danger of defeat when play was finally washed out in their home match with Woodlands.

Their batting faltered against the spin of Chris Brice (5-36) as they stuttered to a disappointing 116-9 in 39 overs.

Liam Collins was going well on 39 not out when Woodlands’ hopes of a first day win were drowned out. Woodlands were 89-4 off 13.5 overs at the premature close with left-armer Alex Lilley (4-30) claiming all the wickets to fall.

Another opening bowler to make an early impression was Bradford & Bingley’s Jack Hartley. He took 5-50 and was backed up by his new-ball partner Bailey Wightman (3-63) as his side dismissed Lightcliffe for 179.

The visitors looked to be deep in trouble when they were reduced to 68-6 but a seventh-wicket stand of 85 between new skipper Ian Philliskirk and Yassir Abbas revived Lightcliffe.

Philliskirk led the recovery with a fine 50 while Abbas made 40 against one of his former clubs. Only 5.4 overs were possible in the Bradford & Bingley innings before play was called off with their score on 26-0.

Cleckheaton’s Andrew Deegan was another bowler to return a five-wicket haul. He took 5-35 and was supported by former Yorkshire slow bowler Azeem Rafiq (3-53) as Townville made 184-9 in 32 overs.

The Townville innings was built around a second-wicket stand of 100 between two of the club’s new signings, Harry Warwick (63) and Imran Rafique (54). Cleckheaton made steady progress to 36-1 in 11 overs before a cloud burst ended proceedings.

The battle of the two newly-promoted clubs also saw all possibility of a positive result drain away. Undercliffe’s 138 all out looked modest with the top score of 29 coming from opening bowler Zeeshan Qasim. James Glynn (3-33) was the pick of the bowlers for Wrenthorpe who had only made six in seven overs when the rain came.