Opening Div 1 & 2 fixtures of Women's County Championship

Here are the Div 1 & 2 fixtures for the first weekend of the 2016 Royal London Women's One Day Championship, this Sunday and Monday.

Division 1
Sunday 
Middlesex v Surrey at Eastcote CC
Somerset v Kent at Taunton CC
Staffs v Berks at Wolverhampton CC
Warks v Sussex at Edgbaston Foundation Ground

MondayStaffs v Somerset at Meakins CC
Surrey v Berks at Reed's School
Sussex v Kent at The Saffrons, Eastbourne
Yorks v Warks at Harrogate CC

Defending champions Yorkshire start their season on Monday against Jenny Gunn's new county, Warwickshire. It could be a good game if the weather holds out with both sides at full strength as far as is known, with Beth Langston making her Yorkshire debut.
Key match of the weekend is probably the Sussex v Kent clash on Monday. The previous day Sussex will have taken on Warwickshire and Kent will be back from their trip to Taunton to take on newbies Somerset. Whoever wins (assuming it will not be a tie like last year) will have the upper hand for the season.
The other newbies Staffs will have their work cut out against Berkshire and Somerset, but they will hope home advantage can inspire them to their first Div 1 win.
Surrey make the short trip to Middlesex for their Sunday game, which could be quite spicey, and are then at home on Monday to Berkshire, as Middlesex get the day off.
With three teams relegated any team that can come away from the weekend with two wins under their belts will be breathing more easily for the rest of the season. Two losses and the pressure will be on, with only six more games to play.

Division 2 fixtures
Sunday
Essex v Wales at Billericay CC
Hants v Devon at Hursley Park CC
Notts v Leicestershire at Welbeck CC

Monday
Essex v Devon at Felsted School
Lancs v Notts at Wigan Sports Club
Leicestershire v Wales at Empingham CC

In Div 2 there are just eight teams this year. Lancs will be looking to bounce straight back into Div 1 next year after being relegated after just one season in the top league. They start their season on Monday against fellow relagatees, Notts, now denuded of England girls Jenny Gunn and Dani Wyatt, but who will have played the day before against Div 2 newbies Leicestershire. Both games could be an important barometer of Notts' chances this season.
Devon will hope to prove to Hampshire that life will be tough for them in Div 2, before journeying to Essex for the Monday clash. Devon have under-achieved over the past few years. Could this be their season?
Wales have a long trip to Essex, and then on to Empingham, near Stamford, for their game against Leicestershire. They will be keen not to come away empty-handed, but it could be tough.
Worcestershire are the other Div 2 team, but their season does not get underway until 15th May.

Fingers crossed the rain stays away.

MD
27/IV/16