2005 season gets underway
by Alan Rowley, 14th April 2005

The long awaited 2005 cricket season finally got underway in our area yesterday with both our local counties in action. Whilst Nottinghamshire had a low key start with a Trent Bridge friendly against the students of Loughborough, Derbyshire jumped straight into competitive action with a Championship game against Worcestershire at the County Ground.

For club cricketers, the wait is almost over too. The Mansfield Sunday League is the first to start with a number of fixtures this Sunday (17th April). There is only one game in the Premier Section where Cutthorpe make the long journey to Newstead Abbey Park for a game against the Abbey and Village. In Section 1, games take place at Alfreton, Aston Hall, Cuckney and Coal Aston. There is also a number of games in the Newark Alliance on Sunday 17th, with a full set of fixtures the week after (24th).

League action in Derbyshire gets going on Saturday week (23rd) with a full set of fixtures in the Derbyshire Premier and County Leagues. For newly promoted Marehay, it's a tough start with the visit of 2004 champions Sandiacre Town. 2004 County League champions Dunstall celebrate their return to the top flight with a home game against Alvaston & Boulton at the Deer Park.

Nottinghamshire club cricketers have a little longer to dig those kit bags out of the garage as the first round of fixtures take place on Saturday 30th April. In the Nottinghamshire Premier, highlight of the day is the clash between Bassetlaw champions Mansfield Hosiery Mills and 2004 Premier runners-up Welbeck Colliery. Premier champions West Indian Cavaliers travel to Notts Unity.

There is a full set of fixtures in the Bassetlaw League on the 23rd, but the South Notts League has an even later start with Division A not starting until May 7th, although there are games in the lower divisions on Saturday 30th. The Yorkshire and Derbyshire League kicks into gear with a full set of fixtures on April 30th.

There is a full set of fixture lists on 'the follow on', but for more in depth coverage, take a look at the individual league's websites.

Derbys Premier & County | Notts Premier | South Notts | Yorkshire & Derbyshire | Newark Alliance

The Bassetlaw League doesn't have a website at the moment, but there is extensive coverage of the League on the Bolsover Colliery Cricket Club site.

'the follow on' will be covering all the above Leagues again in 2005, thanks to contributions from the League Secretaries and Press Officers. I would like to extend my thanks to these hard working officials for their efforts and wish all players and supporters a successful 2005 season.

It's going to be a great Summer - play hard, but play fair!