Dunnington will be hoping to make amends following last season's traumatic relegation from the premier division of the Costcutter York and District Senior Cricket league when the new season opens on Saturday.

Disciplinary problems saw the club demoted after they had seemed on course for a premier division and cup double.

Their players have virtually all stood by the club, and, with former West Indian Test star Alvin Kallicharran adding to their strength, seem to be odds on certainties to reclaim their premier status.

Kallicharran made two appearances for Dunnington towards the end of last season and is expected to play regularly this summer. He still holds the record for the highest innings and best bowling for Warwickshire in the NatWest competition.

He is able to play as a non-overseas player, having lived in Britain for several years. Fellow West Indian Harewood Williams will continue as Dunnington's overseas player.

The main challenge to Dunnington is likely to come from Duncombe Park, who narrowly missed out on promotion last season. Park have had a busy winter on the transfer market, having signed two players each from Nawton and Pickering together with Grant Denny from North Lancashire League side Workington.

With hard hitting Peter Kent returning to the club from Thirsk and the signing of Travis Friend, whose medium pace bowling and mid-order batting earned him Under 19 selection for Zimbabwe, Park enter the new season with high hopes. His fellow countryman Gary Brent was on Park's books last season and graduated to Test level.

Goole Town, whose promotion drive faltered last season when Carl Bradfield returned to South Africa in mid-season, will be aiming for better things and will be hoping that on-going negotiations with West Indian player Carl Brissett come to fruition.

York had a disastrous season last year when they failed to win a single game but should be well capable of holding their own in division one, particularly if Alec Backhouse overcomes the injury problem which prevented him from playing more than a couple of games last year.

York have again looked to Australia for an overseas inport at this level and will be hoping than Kieran Barton, from Towoomba, Queensland, will impress with this quick bowling and middle-order batting talents.

Mid-table status probably beckons Sessay, who are without an overseas player, and Crayke, who have signed Paul Barton from Guisborough and welcome back Mick Pipes after a spell at Hovingham.

Promoted Wilberfoss will be disappointed that John Myers has decided to return to Heslington but overseas player Andy Gray will again be plying the off spin which propelled him to the top of the second division bowling averages and Nick Webster has been recruited from Airedale and Wharfedale League side Bolton.

Civil Service will be strengthened by the return of former players Fraser Clarkson from Stamford Bridge and Jon Draper from Heworth, but may still struggle along with Dringhouses.

Castleford and Bridlington have joined the league and will be looking for second division success with the latter seemingly the better equipped to mount a challenge.

They were mid-table in the NatWest Alliance last year and have added two former Kirkella players to their ranks in Gregg Hird and Robin Kellock.

Hird made 656 runs to help Kirkella to fourth place in the premier division of the NatWest Alliance, which has now been renamed the NPI East Yorkshire Cricket Alliance, while Kellock bagged 20 victims as first choice wicketkeeper for the Hull-based side.

Don't miss the premier division prospects in tomorrow's Evening Press.