New signing Richard Wear made an impressive debut in helping Keighley get off to a winning start at Gomersal in Division Two.

The former Harden player fell just three runs short of a century as his 97 provided the bulk of the visitors’ 222-9.

He was there for the majority of the innings, coming in at No 3 after new skipper Freddie Pearson was bowled by Joel Pollard for just four.

That left Keighley 10-1 but when Wear was finally dismissed by the same bowler, he had guided his new club to 221 before being the ninth man out.

His main source of back-up came from fellow new signing Mark Beck-ett (28) and Jonny Wilkinson (26), the latter sharing a partnership of 63 for the sixth wicket.

Gomersal looked on course for their target when the experienced Richard Gould and Jack Seddon had put on 75 for the fourth wicket to leave them on 121-3.

But Keighley all-rounder Richard Robinson – who stepped down from the captaincy due to a shoulder injury – struck a crucial blow when he had Gould leg before for 44.

That put the skids on the hosts, who lost another four wickets for 22 runs.

Seddon top-scored with 57 and, though Pollard provided late resistsance with an unbeaten 37, Gom-ersal fell 35 runs short of Keighley.

Robinson weighed in with 3-44, while new Aussie overseas bowler Andrew King took 2-47.

The shock of the day in Division Two saw relegated Baildon lose at Great Horton, who had not won a game all season last year.

Sadaqat Zaman marked his return to the club by taking 5-20 and was well supported by Jawad Waheed (3-44) as Baildon were dismissed for 83 in a six-wicket defeat.

Meanwhile, a second-wicket partnership of 111 between Richard Wood (56no) and Andrew Waggett (48) helped Keighley II to an eight-wicket win over East Bierley II in Division One of the second-team competition.

East Bierley were dismissed for 145 batting first, with newcomer Ross Monaghan making the top score of 54. Luke Chapman was the best Keighley bowler with 4-24.

This Saturday sees Keighley’s first team host Bowling Old Lane, while the seconds head to Yeadon.