CHAMPIONS Garnons have a tough opening-day fixture at Goodrich in Division 1 of the GB Liners Marches League.

Ian Bannerman has replaced Jon Andrews as the new skipper and Garnons will be hoping to repeat the success of last term.

Garnons chairman Steve Newton said: "We are looking forward to another exciting season, although we have four very difficult matches on the trot. We will have the same faces in the squad and a couple of new additions to the club, such as Nick James from Wormelow."

Their opponents on Saturday, Goodrich, finished third last term and will be looking to fill the void left by their leading-bowler, Andy Russell, who died tragically in January.

Goodrich skipper Andy Brown, who got married last week, said: "We will struggle to fill the gap left by Andy - he was the top bowler in the league last year. But we will have the experience of Mike Evans and we will hope to do well."

Luctonians make their return to the Marches League with a trip to Llandrindod Wells.

The north Herefordshire side are being captained by Andrew Wilmot, who expects a season of consolidation.

"We have attracted some people who were interested in playing in the Marches League, while some have wanted to play their cricket in the Worcestershire league."

Ian Lawrence is making a return to Luctonians with his son, while the former chairman of Leominster, Joel Clarke, is also joining the Kingsland outfit.

All-rounder Dave Bottom has returned to his former club, Ludlow, to play in the Shropshire Premier League.

"We will have the likes of Duncan and James Platford and the aim is to run three teams and make progress with junior players coming through the ranks," said Wilmot.

Wilmot played in the club's 3rd team for most of last season before being called up to the 1st team towards the end of the campaign.

"We are not going to aim too high at this stage but, if we were to finish in the top three or four, that would be an excellent achievement."

Bartestree & Lugwardine, who finished fifth last term and will be striving for consistency, travel to Glangrwyney in their opening match.

New captain Paul Shannon said: "We have a young team, mostly the same as last season. But with a year's experience under their belts, I am hoping that we will be more consistent. Last season we would win a game and then lose the next one, inexplicably."

Shannon, a former Belbroughton player, is hoping for another fine season from Dean Smith.

Smith finished second in both the league batting and bowling averages in 2007 after scoring 534 runs at an average of 89 and taking 23 wickets at 14.48.

Shannon added: "We have an abundance of batsmen but we need to be stronger with the ball. There are a lot of good teams in the league and, to do well, we will have to be at our best."

Newly-promoted Ledbury have skipper Steve Large at the helm for their first season back in Division 1.

“We have a couple of new players with Richard Davies from Bishops Frome and former Eastnor player Emlyn Vicarage, who will be the first-team wicket-keeper. Our main priority is to stay up and we would like to finish in the top half of the table.” Ledbury will have sightscreens at their ground for the first time after Steve Evans built and painted two sightscreens.