Cricket: Audley handed home help in Twenty20 curtain-raiser
They kick off their campaign by taking on Hem Heath and Cheadle at the Kent Hills Ground on Sunday, June 14.
Elsewhere, both Porthill Park and Porthill Park A travel to Sandyford, while Premier teams Longton and Leycett are both at Norton, who were promoted to Division One last year.
Holders Leek, runners-up Kidsgrove and Premier champions Moddershall have all been given byes.
The second round will be played on Sunday, June 28, the semi-finals on Sunday, July 19 with the finals day scheduled for Sunday, August 16.
First-round draw (first team at home): Crewe v Blythe v Little Stoke, Elworth v Meakins v Knypersley, Norton v Longton v Leycett, Ashcombe Park v Checkley v Eccleshall, Betley v Endon v Burslem, Bignall End v Alsager v Hanford, Audley v Hem Heath v Cheadle, Bagnall v Caverswall v Fenton, Moddershall A v Barlaston v Newcastle & Hartshill, Stafford v Oakamoor v Oulton, Creda Stanfields v Wedgwood v Weston, Norton in Hales v Silverdale v Whitmore, Sandyford v Porthill Park v Porthill Park A, Meir Heath v Rode Park v Stone SP, Woore v Wood Lane v Stone SP A.
THE local cricket scene will miss the views and comments of Sentinel correspondent Peter Hewitt, who sadly died earlier this week in Leighton Hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage at the age of 76.
A minute's silence was observed in Peter's memory at the North Staffs and South Cheshire League meeting this week.
The funeral will take place at St Mary's Church in Alsager on Thursday, January 22 (1pm) followed by cremation at Bradwell.
THE North Staffs and District Phoenix League pre-AGM takes place this Wednesday, January 14, at Newcastle and Hartshill (7.30pm).
MEAKINS hold their AGM at their Ivy House Road clubhouse on Monday (8pm).
MODDERSHALL have begun their preparations for the season with the start of a winter coaching programme.
It runs for 12 weeks (two six-week slots) and is being held at Sandon Business College.
Sessions for under-nines, 11s and 13s will run on Thursdays (6-7.30pm) and ladies on Thursdays from 7.30-9pm.
Under-15s, 17s have sessions on Fridays (6-7.30pm) and seniors on Fridays between 7.30 and 9pm.
The sessions, being run by the club's ECB qualified coaches and led by Andy Housley, are open to existing members and anyone else interested in joining.
A FEW vacancies still exist on a Child Protection Course organised by the Staffordshire Cricket Board.
It takes place at the Dudson Centre in Hanley on Wednesday, January 21.
Further details from Dave Kettle, telephone (01782) 215202.
TEN clubs in Staffordshire have benefited from the ECB 'Go Green' Fund, it has been revealed.
The ECB launched the scheme in May last year, with £200,000 made available to all clubs in the country.
A maximum £10,000 grant was available to any one project with 25 per cent of funding coming from the club itself.
Projects in Staffordshire included new windows and doors, rain water harvesting to be used to water the square and new boilers for two clubs.
Andy Grice, marketing and funding director for Staffordshire Cricket, is delighted by the success.
"Some of Staffordshire's clubs have done very well out of this fund and I congratulate every one of them in spending the time to send applications in to the ECB.
"What was nice is when you see clubs rewarded who have worked very hard with very little grant awards in the past. Staffordshire Cricket tries to give good advice to benefit all clubs and, if our efforts only help a little to bring in such funding, we are delighted to help."
HEM Heath professional Mo Hussain took 3-75 from 40 overs, but his Pakistan Customs side crashed to an innings defeat against Habib Bank in the latest matches in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in Pakistan.
AUDLEY professional Juan Theron took 3-25 from his nine overs, but his Warriors side were beaten by the Dolphins in the final ball of their game in the MTN Domestic One Day series in South Africa and failed to qualify for the semi-final stages.
Career best figures of 8-51, followed by 3-26, from Leycett professional Dinesh Daminda helped Ragama take over top spot in Sri Lankan Premier League Tier A after defeating former leaders Bloomfield.
Daminda, who won the Performance of the Week award, had all but given up hope of a career in cricket five years ago following a nasty knee injury.
He had screws inserted into his knee and, through a six-month period of rehabilitation, recovered remarkably well to be ranked among the 10 best fast bowlers in the country, clocking speeds at around 135kph.
Last season, he had a recurrence of the injury which again pushed back his ambitions of playing for his country.
But he recovered and arrived in England to play club cricket last year.
Daminda missed the first few matches of the season back in Sri Lanka, but now seems back on course once more.
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