Match of the day

Weaverham v Oakmere

Cheshire League Division One

Last season, these teams played two levels apart.

The Russets' relegation from the county league, coupled with the men from Overdale Lane celebrating promotion as champions, pits them against each other on the opening afternoon of a new campaign.

It will be illuminating to get an early gauge of their relative strength.

Weaverham have suffered a blow already after captain Jake Lightfoot, who has taken over from Ian Eaton, suffered a dislocated finger in practice that rules him out of this weekend's game.

Their guests will want to lay a marker on their return to the top-flight after four years away.

It's an important afternoon for...

Northwich (home to Tattenhall)

It promises to be a challenging summer for the men from Moss Farm following the departures of Andrew Dufty, their leading wicket-taker in each of the past three years, and James Plant to Oulton Park.

Gladwin Cherian replaces the latter as captain.

His new-look side, which is also shorn of Mark Walker's considerable know-how following his retirement, suffered a heavy defeat to neighbours Barnton in a friendly last weekend.

They will want to make a positive start to build confidence.

And what about?

Oulton Park (home to Hyde)

The men from Little Budworth are something of an unknown quantity after a high turnover of players during the winter.

A reliable partnership at the top of their batting order, consisting of new captain Martyn East and Cheshire's three-day captain Danny Leech, remains intact though.

It will be fascinating to see how a crop of new recruits from rival mid Cheshire clubs adjust to playing in the Premier Division for the first time.

A visit from Hyde, promoted back to the county league's highest level as champions, pose a considerable early test at Pinfold Lane.

Why not go and give your local side some support?

Here’s a full list of fixtures from the respective competitions our teams play in:

Cheshire County League

ECB Premier Division (from 12.30pm): Alderley Edge v Nantwich; Chester Boughton Hall v Toft; Grappenhall v Cheadle; Oulton Park v Hyde; Timperley v Marple; Widnes v Neston.

Division One (from 1pm): Bollington v Bramhall; Davenham v Brooklands; Didsbury v Oxton; Romiley v Macclesfield; Upton v Bowdon; Urmston v Sale.

Division Two (from 1pm): Christleton v Barrow; Hale Barns v Alvanley; Mobberley v Lindow; Northwich v Tattenhall; Stockport Georgians v Stockport; Warrington v Congleton.

Second XI, Premier Division (from 1pm): Cheadle v Grappenhall; Hyde v Oulton Park; Marple v Upton; Nantwich v Alderley Edge; Neston v Didsbury; Toft v Chester Boughton Hall.

Division Two (from 1pm): Alvanley v Hale Barns; Cheadle Hulme v Ashton-on-Mersey; Congleton v Widnes; Lindow v Davenham; Stockport v Bollington; Tattenhall v Neston 3rd.

Cheshire League (from 1pm unless stated)

Division One: Ashton-on-Mersey v Cheadle Hulme; Haslington v Port Sunlight; Kingsley v Runcorn; Lymm v Stockport Trinity; North East Cheshire v Barnton; Weaverham v Oakmere.

Division Two: Appleton v Hawk Green; Bredbury St Mark's v Ashley; Heaton Mersey v Winnington Park; Irby v Woodford; Langley v Wilmslow; Prestbury v Middlewich; Stretton v Maritime.

Division Four: Bowdon Vale v Glazebury; Kerridge v Westminster Park; Malpas v Styal; Saughall v Mossley; Trafford MV v Wistaston; Winsford v Tranmere Victoria.

Division A: Didsbury 5th v Northwich 2nd; Oakmere 2nd v Weaverham 2nd; Port Sunlight 2nd v Haslington 2nd; Runcorn 2nd v Mobberley 2nd; Upton 3rd v Lymm 2nd; Woodford 2nd v Irby 2nd.

Division B East: Ashley 2nd v Macclesfield 3rd; Hawk Green 2nd v Stretton 2nd; Middlewich 2nd v Brooklands 3rd; Stockport Trinity 2nd v Cheadle Hulme 3rd; Warrington 3rd v Timperley 3rd; Wilmslow 2nd v Bredbury St Mark's 2nd.

Division B West: Barnton 2nd v Chester Boughton Hall 3rd; Barrow 2nd v Cholmondeley 2nd; Maritime 2nd v Appleton 2nd; Neston 4th v Aston 2nd; The Groves v Kingsley 2nd; Timperley 4th v Oxton 3rd.

Division C North South: Appleton 4th v Europa Exiles; Ashley Academy v Knutsford 2nd; Bunbury 2nd v Rostherne; Glazebury 2nd v North East Cheshire 2nd; Haslington 3rd v Warrington 4th; Winnington Park 2nd v Hartford; Wistaston 2nd v Holmes Chapel 2nd.