A look at the runners and riders in the Houldsworth a Solicitors Riiblesdale League
Barnoldswick

Captain: Luke Hodgson

Professional: Louis Delport (South Africa)

Ground: Victory Park

Last year: 2nd

Barlick put up a brave defence of their 2012 title last term and will go hard once again. Keeping Abdul Saddique and Umar Saddique despite the annual rumours is a major boost and the arrival of Sean Lemon from Nelson is also a bonus for Barlick. They have lost the 600 runs and wicketkeeping abilities of Liam Bedford and that is a blow for Luke Hodgson's men. They will still prove a tough nut to crack though.

Baxenden

Captain: Gary Sudworth

Professional: Asif Iqbal (Pakistan)

Ground: Back Lane

Last year: 6th

Bash had a slow start last term as they suffered with early season professional problems and eventually missed out on a place in the Lancashire Cup. But skipper Gary Sudworth led from the front with 78 league wickets and he will once again be key to his side's hopes. In an open league, Baxenden will be there or there abouts when the season reaches its business end and should make the top five.

Brinscall

Captain: Liam Winstanley

Professional: Zandre Cloete

Ground: School Lane

Last year: 1st Division One

Welcome aboard. Brinscall have been pushing for the top flight for years and now they finally get their chance after finishing top of Division One yet again. They are something of an unknown quantity but so were Brooksbottom and Euxton when they arrived in the Senior League 12 months ago. They will have some challenging days as is the nature of the league - but anyone taking them lightly could be shocked.

Brooksbottom

Captain: Julian Marcroft

Professional: Neil Browne (West Indies)

Ground: The Brox

Last year: 10th 

A hugely impressive debut season in 2013 saw the Brox upset several teams and reach the final of the Ramsbottom Cup where they lost to Ribblesdale Wanderers. They will want to kick on for this year and have a new professional in the shape of West Indian Neil Browne who has replaced Allan Armer in Summerseat. They could well improve their league position this time around.

Cherry Tree

Captain: Mark Hadfield

Professional: Ruan Sadler (South Africa)

Ground: Preston Old Road

Last year: 15th

Cherry Tree had a year to forget in 2013 as they were forced into a rebuilding job and they were only saved from relegation by the league restructure. But they have come through those challenges and have an impressive looking professional in the shape of Ruan Sadler. There is also a return to top flight cricket for the evergreen Rob Ince who will take his fair share of wickets for Mark Hadfield's men.

Clitheroe

Captain: Paul Gaskell

Professional: Janke Gunarante (Sri Lanka)

Ground: Chatburn Road

Last year: Champions

Last year's champions turned 2013 into something of a procession and there is no doubt that Paul Gaskell's men will fancy another season at the business end of the table. Always hard to beat and always competitive Clitheroe will be in the mix throughout the campaign and will be very disappointed if they don't end the campaign with at least one piece of silverware in the trophy cabinet.

Earby

Captain: Richard Craddock

Professional: David Crotty (England)

Ground: The Applegarth

Last year: 13th

Earby's 2013 was one to forget despite the runs of professional Fahid Rehman but this year will be a polar opposite. They have recruited the high-class David Crotty as professional from Nelson and he could easily be the league's stand-out man in his first season in the paid ranks. Richard Craddock takes over as skipper and he will not accept second best.

Edenfield

Captain: Adam Barnes

Professional: Paul Gallagher (England)

Ground: Gincroft Lane

Last year: 11th Start well but then fade away, that seems to be the story of most seasons for Edenfield but could 2014 be their year? Pro Paul Gallagher will score a bucket load of runs and the capture of all-rounder Joe McCluskie from Bacup is a real coup. He could give Adam Barnes' men a real boost this year and it would be something of a shock if they were not able the last the course this time around.

Euxton

Captain: Mark Winrow

Professional: Preston White (Australia)

Ground: Balshaw Park

Last year: 14th

Euxton were tipped for relegation last year but they had enough in them to win seven games and those efforts kept them out of the bottom two. Euxton is a club that is growing in stature and everyone at Balshaw Park will work to improve on last term - and they will also be hoping for fewer problems in the overseas amateur department after their difficulties 12 months ago.

Great Harwood

Captain: Russell Whalley

Professional: Jack Wildermouth (Australia)

Ground: The Cliffe

Last year: 9th

Jack Wildermouth arrives at The Cliffe with a very good reputation and he could be a star. As unpredictable as they can be you can never write off Great Harwood and you know that any sticky spell is followed by big results. If they can develop consistency they can last the course and in Stuart Maher they have one of the league's stand out bowlers while Russell Whalley is still a massive danger with the bat.

Oswaldtwistle Immanuel

Captain: Jon Baldwin

Professional: Harry Allanby (Australia)

Ground: New Lane

Last year: 5th

Immanuel enjoyed a marvellous season last year and earned a deserved place in the top five and the Lancashire Cup - but skipper Jon Baldwin won't want to rest on his laurels. Andreas Sudnik is primed for another big season and his seam bowling could inspire the New Lane outfit again. The next step for Immanuel is an attempt at a piece of silverware - and don't rule them out of any competition.

Padiham

Captain: Callum Clarke

Professional: Darryl Losper (South Africa)

Ground: The Arbories

Last year: 16th

Nothing went right for Padiham last year and they could barely field the same 11 week on week. They also suffered injury woes and key men were out of form as they crashed to the bottom of the league. They are looking at 2014 as a fresh start and South African Darryl Losper arrives at The Arbories to replace Chris Holt as professional. Padiham will be a different proposition.

Read

Captain: Kyle O'Connor

Professional: Brandon Scullard (South Africa)

Ground: Whalley Road

Last year: 4th

It says much about the high standards of Read that fourth place is seen as a disappointment - and they want to put 2013 behind them. Will Driver's guaranteed runs make light of the loss of Mohammed Jamal and skipper Kyle O'Connor will once again lead from the front. But Jonathan Harvey is a big loss following retirement however the Lowes brothers can be big performers.

Ribblesdale Wanderers

Captain: Charlie Jackson

Professional: Ben Dougall (Australia)

Ground: Church Meadow

Last year: 7th, Ramsbottom Cup winners

Ribblesdale Wanderers had a belting season last time around with the Ramsbottom Cup victory, Ian Britcliffe's 100 league wickets and the 1,179 runs of Ben Dougall giving everyone at Church Meadow reasons to smile. They ended up in seventh place in the table but new skipper Charlie Jackson will challenge his men to break into the top five at the very least this time around.

Salesbury

Captain: Steve Brown

Professional: Susantha Pradeep (Sri Lanka)

Ground: Ribchester Road

Last year: 12th, Twenty20 winners

The Red Caps had their best day as a Senior League side when they lifted the Twenty20 trophy last term and while their 12th-place finish was a little disappointing there is no reason why they cannot push on this time. Star professional Susantha Pradeep is once again back at Ribchester Road and he always inspires - but he does need more back up from Salesbury's amateurs.

Settle

Captain: Eddy Read

Professional: Imran Khalid (Pakistan)

Ground: Marshfield

Last year: 3rd

Title-winning ex-Barnoldswick professional Imran Khalid has moved into the Dales this year and he will give Settle an extra threat with the ball while Eddy Read's pace is always uncomfortable for unsuspecting batsmen. Settle had a good year last time and earned their third place - and there is nothing stopping them at least matching that providing they can keep a settled side.

Whalley

Captain: Richard Lamb

Professional: Wilkin Mota (India)

Ground: Station Road

Last year: 8th

Richard Lamb takes over as Whalley skipper from Richard Palmer and former Indian Premier League man Wilkin Mota returns to Station Road and this year could be a good one. Whalley will look to make a sustained push for the top five this time around and there is more than enough talent in their side to achieve that goal and make a serious tilt at the Ramsbottom Cup.