THE new Hunters York and District Senior Cricket League season will open with a bang as last year's two top sides clash in a double header.

Champions Easingwold and former top dogs Dunnington, who will be eager to reclaim their crown, meet in the opening league game at Dunnington tomorrow and then re-assemble at Easingwold on Sunday in the President's Challenge match.

Having won the championship last season without the assistance of an overseas player, Easingwold will be fielding much the same team although they have recruited Andrew Dawson from neighbouring Crayke, who will add further depth to their batting line-up.

Skipper Martin Piercy made 909 runs, Martin Robinson 857 and Jon Marwood 663 last summer, and Easingwold will be hoping that the new points system, which sees all wins earn a 30-point reward, will benefit their batting orientated line-up.

Dunnington are one of 37 teams to have changed captains and a fully fit Simon Kellett is taking over from Collis King.

Kellett, together with Hamid Khan and ex-West Indian Test star King will form an impressive top order while the recruitment of 20-year-old Masood Asim, who has made three first class appearances in his native Pakistan, will further strengthen the batting and provide a spinning option.

Acomb, with Andy Tute taking over the pilot's seat, are hoping to have Sanjaya Rodrigo for a further season while Woodhouse Grange's overseas man is Kahn Jowsey, a quick bowler from New Zealand.

Clifton Alliance's free-scoring West Indian, Lorenzo Ingram, has moved to Stamford Bridge being replaced at Shipton Road by Australian Daniel Harris who has made nine first class appearances for South Australia. Harris also bowls medium pacers.

Heworth have added Steve Jackson from Osbaldwick and youngster Chris Pitts from Carlton Towers to their squad and have also recruited a first-class player in Zimbabwean Colin de Grandhomme. He, too, is a quickish bowler and his arrival at Elmpark Way should compensate for the loss of spinner Mark Bell to York.

Another change of leadership sees Steve Crowder take over from Paul Oldfield at Sheriff Hutton Bridge.

Both Malton & Old Malton, who are appearing in the top grade for the first time, and Osbaldwick, enjoyed impressive performances from their overseas men in 2004 but neither are returning for the new campaign. So Brent Warren at Malton and Aussie compatriot Paul Finnie will both need to deliver the goods on a regular basis.

York will be looking to bounce back after finishing at the foot of the premier division last season and may well be regarded as favourites after recruiting spinner Bell, youthful paceman James Bryan from Harrogate and Robert Harrison from Scarborough in addition to Brisbane-based opener and slow bowler Jason English.

Despite the exit of Pitts, Carlton Towers seem likely to mount a serious challenge as they have signed paceman Oral Blackford from Whitkirk and will again have Indian Abhay Sharma in their ranks.

Thirsk will be happy to reach safety after dropping down last year but will find stiff mid-table competition and their survival may well depend on the performance of Aussie Simon Schwerdt and the availability of Barry Petty.

Hemingbrough, having won promotion in each of their first two seasons may well complete a hat-trick as their strong side will be augmented by Pakistani Asim Butt who has taken 41 wickets as a fast medium bowler in his 13 first class appearances.

Studley Royal look to be the other main contender while Goole Town will be looking to make an immediate return to the first division

Harrogate II have sunk to their lowest position in the league and provide Folkton & Flixton with their first opposition in the York League.

The former Scarborough Beckett League side are led by Neil Elvidge who will have former York and Scarborough colleague Damian Gormley in his line-up.

Updated: 11:13 Friday, April 22, 2005