The Fixby man impressed non-playing captain Chris Mear in the recent pre season trial with his all round game and is ptiched in for the clash against the Bradford Union this Sunday at Halifax GC.

Mear is optimistic of success as his side have won well at the Ogden venue in each of the last two seasons, with the opponents on each previous occasion being East Riding Union.

The Halifax/Huddersfield side also met the Bradford Union in their opening fixture last term, when they suffered a narrow 19-17 defeat at Skipton GC, but Mear is confident a side with a nice blend of experience and youth can reverse that result this time and get the campaign off to a flyer.

"It is imperative that we get off to a good start if we are to challenge for the league title," he said.

"And with four home matches this season, and the Inter District Union Team Championship to be held at Huddersfield GC in September I feel that we have a realistic chance of producing our best season for some time."

Mear's selection for the curtain raiser has been made slightly problematical due to the unavailability of home player Steve Sweeney, Dewsbury's Edward Battye and the experienced Steve Martin of West End.

But the Union chief believes the team he has selected is more than capable of getting the result.

He said he had no qualms about selecting Ellison and young Matthew Colcombe of Longley Park also retains his place after his impressive win over Richard Hodkinson of Lindrick in the final match of last season's campaign away to the Sheffield Union.

The foursomes matches start at 10am with the singles starting at 2pm and Mear said any additional support would be very welcome.

Full team: Richard Broadley, Jared Ellison (Huddersfield), Andy Shaw (Bradley Hall), Iain Powell (Hebden Bridge), Jim Fairhurst (Bradley Hall), Ben Crowther (Dewsbury Dist), Graham McLean, James Thompson (both Meltham), Frank Greaves, Sam Bridges (both West End), Mark Birkett (Halifax), Matthew Colcombe (Longley Park).