THE Richard Flaherty Memorial Trophy, the traditional curtain-raiser to the newitts.com Beckett League, begins early next month with opening fixtures between Union Rovers and Malton & Norton reserves and Ryedale and Slingsby.

Union and M&N are joined in group one by Old Malton reserves and Gillamoor, while in group two Ryedale and Slingsby are joined by Sinnington and Kirkdale. The winners of the two pools meet in the final. All matches take place at Swinton Playing Fields and kick off at 6.30pm.

The full list of group fixtures is: Monday, August 4: Union Rovers v Malton & Norton reserves, Ryedale v Slingsby.

Thursday, August 7: Gillamoor v Old Malton res, Kirkdale v Sinnington.

Monday, August 11: Old Malton res v Malton & Norton res, Kirkdale v Ryedale.

Thursday, August 14: Union Rovers v Gillamoor, Slingsby v Sinnington.

Monday, August 18: Gillamoor v Malton & Norton res, Ryedale v Sinnington.

Thursday, August 21: Union Rovers v Old Malton res, Slingsby v Kirkdale.

Tuesday, August 26: final.

Meanwhile, Thornton-le-Dale, who have two senior teams in the first and second divisions of the Beckett League as well as a progressive junior set-up, will be holding their annual general meeting on Sunday (July 27) at the Buck Inn, Thornton-le-Dale, starting at 6pm.