JUST three out of 15 first-team matches – at Mytholmroyd, Low Moor and Upper Hopton – failed to start in what proved a vindication of the Halifax League's executive committee's decision to start last weekend.

In the Premier Division, the sterling efforts of top-tier newcomers Bridgeholme to get their match on proved worthwhile as over 500 runs were scored in a tight encounter with Oxenhope, who won by 17 runs.

Josh Tetley (87) led the way in the visitors' 266 and he was backed up by fellow opener Josh Fleetwood (32), Liam Dyson (29) and Joe Ousey (31), with Eddie Jackson (26) doing some tail-wagging.

Richard Ellis (5-80) and Joel Fothergill (4-32) then helped restrict Bridgeholme to 249.

New boys Shelf Northowram Hedge Top began life in the top flight with a victory at Southowram, who made 163-7 as Harry Reynolds took 3-40.

Razwan Saghir (59) was the backbone of the reply of 165-3, adding 61 for the second wicket with Dan Cole (29) and 60 for the third with Oliver Hemingway (47no).

Thornton also triumphed away from home, restricting SBCI to 152-9, with opening pair Josh Hutchinson (3-28 from 13) and Ross Parr (2.15 from 13) setting the miserly tone.

Nikki Hutchinson (36no) and Tim Shackleton (30no) then saw the visitors to a six-wicket win after Josh Hutchinson had also made 36.

There was a nail-biting finish in the First Division at Clayton on a tricky track.

Joe Brown's 28 helped the hosts to 94, and then Paul Gelder (3-8), Joe Selby (3-10) and Sam Wilson (3-30) castled visitors Blackley for 90.

But neither Great Horton Park Chapel, who lost by 79 runs to Sowerby Bridge, nor Queensbury, beaten by 87 runs by Bradshaw, could make much impression.

In Division Two, Cullingworth were toppled for 59 in an 86-run defeat to Old Town.