HAVING gone through the 2012 season undefeated champions Richmondshire, with a virtually unchanged squad, are quietly confident that they can retain their crown, but with a number of clubs having strengthened during the winter the title race looks set to be a hotly contested affair.

Gary Pratt will lead the Dalesmen this time around, and the job won’t hold any fears for the former Durham man who topped the league batting averages and captained Cumbria to Minor Counties success in 2012.

He will have the invaluable services of Shani Dissanayake at his disposal, the popular Sri Lankan back for his eleventh year in a row. And last season’s leading all-rounder will arrive in pretty good nick - he averaged 140 with the bat in his last four first-class matches before setting sail for his second home.

One player Pratt will probably not have at his disposal is Lewis Stabler. The promising youngster has secured a second team contract with Yorkshire,but his probable absence for large chunks of the campaign is tempered by the fact that the experienced Chris Layfield is expected to return this year.

Darlington were the most successful at dodging the rain last summer, and their uncanny knack of defying the elements meant they were in with a shout of the title right to the bitter end.

The power behind the Quakers challenge was their bowling attack. They all remain, and with the batting ranks bolstered by several new arrivals Darlington could pose a threat once more. In come John Watson and Harry Linton from Norton, alongside Matty Brown from Marton, although Brown is likely to miss the first two months following a back operation, while Watson suffered a hand injury in a pre season friendly that could sideline him in the opening weeks.

Barnard Castle have signed an overseas professional for the first time in their history, and with a world record to his name he looks a pretty useful acquisition. Pakistani Aamer Sajjad has over 6000 first class career runs, the highlight being an innings of 289 in a partnership of 580,the highest second wicket stand in first class history. Former Yorkshire player James Finch skippers Barney, and also has Belgian international quickie Faisal Khan at his disposal.

There will be more derbies to savour with just eight moorclad miles separating Guisborough, Great Ayton and Stokesley, and the Priorymen in particular will be expecting big things as they get set to unveil a number of new faces.

Sri Lankan slow left-armer Ranil Dhammika heads the cast list, and he is joined by Richie Evans (Marske), Stuart Lobb and Adam Greenwell (Billingham) and former Yorkshire player Phil Holdsworth (Bishop Auckland). Dhammika appears to be an exciting signing - he broke the Central Lancashire League wicket taking record in 2012.

The two Allinson brothers have moved on from Fountain’s Garth, ex-Yorkshire player Chris joining James Beaumont at Stokesley to make it an all-English propairing at the SCG. Richard Chandler has also joined from Northallerton, but the club have to reckon without broken arm victim Will Brown in the opening weeks.

Great Ayton have headed back to South Africa for their overseas pro, left-handed opening batsman Nick Hendrie replacing compatriot Brad Moses in the Leven Parkdressing room, while another left handed batter, Jaedyn Bartosh-Short, has arrived from New Zealand. Opening bowler Chris Witherley is out for the whole campaign after breaking his leg playing football.