High Green Village CC start their new league campaign this coming Saturday, 21st April (1.30pm) with a home tie against Scholes at Thorpe Hesley CC, as the newly promoted club bid to hit the ground running for their first season in division 1 of the South Yorkshire Cricket Alliance, after finishing 3rd in division 2 last time round. The team have bought in 2 new faces (with a third expected to be announced shortly), in talented youngsters Jack Myers and Dan Naylor, to add to last years strong squad, and are again led by Andy Fisher and Richard Taylor (with Taylor also taking over the midweek team), and will be hopeful of another strong campaign again this year. The club also warmed up with a pre season friendly victory away to Millhouses Works CC, 15th April. Millhouses batted first as High Green took the opportunity to use all 10 bowlers, and restricted the hosts to 131 for 9 from their 40 overs, Chris Fisher picking up 3 for 10, and the impressive Jack Myers on debut taking 3 for 19, Amjid Khan getting 41 not out for the Millers and Rabnawaz Khan 33. In response after an early wobble at 18 for 3, Ryan Stringer came to the crease and turned the game on its head, smashing a career best 75 not out, including 4 6s, and with some support from Chris Fisher (21), Green finished 4 wicket victors with 14 overs to spare. Early season fixtures (all home fixtures played at Thorpe Hesley CC) - Sat 21st Apr 2012 1st XI vs Scholes CC, Rotherham - 1st XI League Sat 28th Apr 2012 1st XI vs Forgemasters CC - 1st XI League Wed 2nd May 2012 Midweek XI vs Shiregreen CC - Midweek XI League STOCKSBRIDGE CC 2012 SEASON PREVIEW Stocksbridge CC will look to build on a fantastic 2011 when they begin their 2012 campaign in the Yorkshire and Derbyshire League this coming weekend. The 2nd XI are away at Sheffield Transport in Division Three, whilst the 3rd XI welcome TRS to Bracken Moor in Division Four. Both have selected strong sides in anticipation of victory and a positive start in what is a milstone year for the club, which celebrates 150 years of cricket being played in the valley. The 2nd and 3rd XI's both view promotion from their respective divisions as achieveable this year thus a strong start is imperative. The 1st XI, meanwhile, commence thier league season a week later at home to Parkhead in Division One. There is also junior action this weekend as the U15s play a cup match at Norton Oakes on Sunday morning. The season began a little earlier than expected for the Sunday XI, under new captain Jason Hurst, who experienced a turgid opening encounter against a youthful Thorncliffe side at the weekend. Callum Haywood began 2012 in inspired form; taking six wickets for just four runs. This enabled Stocksbridge to bowl out the hosts for 66 after winning the toss on a typical slow and low April wicket which lacked any sort of pace or bounce. There were also wickets for Andy Hibbert, Paul Civico and Tom Dobson. Indeed all the Stocksbridge juniors who bowled - Jamie South, Luke Davis and Dobson - impressed. The Stocksbridge batting line-up looked decidely rusty in reply but the team managed crawl over the line to win by four wickets; Andy Hibbert making 25. The team's next match is away at Grimethorpe on Sunday 22nd. Teams for this weekend: 2nd XI away at Shef Transport; meet 12pm, start 1.30pm: Anthony Siddall (cpt), Mark Wingfield (vcpt), Chris Siddall, Jamie Newton (wk), Bob Newton, Paul Wingfield, Chris Thwaites, Chris Ogley, Jack Lyons, Callum Haywood, Steve Perry 3rd XI home v TRS; meet 12.30pm, start 1.30pm: Matt Howe (cpt), Oliver Cockbill-Black (wk), Malc Perry, Richard Marshall, Tom Reeves, Jack Murfin, Jon Pickford, Chris Pickford, Ben Cherry, Will Cavanagh, Luke Davis