Kent Cricket League Championship opener between Leeds & Broomfield and The Mote could signal start of new era

By Mark Bristow

Leeds & Broomfield and The Mote launch their Kent League Championship seasons today (Saturday) with a mouthwatering local derby between two sides whose backstories could hardly be more contrasting.

In the away dressing room at the picturesque Leeds Castle ground will be The Mote, six times winners of the Kent League's top division who hosted county cricket from 1881 until 2005 and traditionally have been the senior club in the area.

Leeds, in the home dressing room, are one of Kent club cricket's modern success stories whose rise from village status, led initially by former Kent and England bowler Martin McCague, has brought eight promotions since 2008 and last year a Lord's final after securing the Kent League Division 1 title the week before.

The two clubs meet for the first time in the Kent League in a game that will provide the best indication yet of whether the tectonic plates of cricket locally are shifting.

"There's nothing like a derby fixture to ease us into the season," Max Aitken, the Leeds top-order batsman said with more than a hint of irony.

"Obviously being two local clubs we know quite a few of their players and they will know quite a few of ours.

“But we've not played at this level, so there's no scar tissue, and with that comes a lot of optimism. But at the same time we're aware this is a step up and there's nothing like a local derby to get us going.

"The Mote have so much depth and experience and are the kind of side that even if you have them 40-4, can still go on and get 250."

It will be a weekend of local derbies for Leeds, who on Sunday commence their Voneus Village Cup campaign at home to two-time previous Lord's winners Linton Park, eight months after they lost a low-scoring