EXHALL and Wixford's attempt to go one better than last season and be crowned npower National Village Cup champions starts with a home tie against Gracedieu Park on Sunday, May 8.

Last summer's beaten finalists at Lord's have received a bye in round one of the Leicestershire and Warwickshire group - an incentive also bestowed on fellow Cotswold Hills League outfit Kineton who will play host to Wishaw in the second round.

There's a trio of Cotswold Hills League sides in the Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Powys group stages and two of them have been drawn together in the first round.

Reigning champions Overbury, who pipped Exhall for the title this year, will entertain Ashton, while Bretforton have been given a bye.

Tricky test

The latter face a tricky test at Eastnor in round two, while last season's group winners who lost out to Exhall, Chaddesley Corbett, have been handed a trip to the winners of the Overbury against Ashton clash.

Offenham are entering the competition for the first time and they open up with a trip to Garnons on April 24. The winners face a trip to Cookley in round two.

There's solitary Cotswold Hills League representation in a busy Gloucestershire group with Twyning facing a first round date at Slaughters United. The winners will be at home to Hambrook or Rockhampton.

Last season's group winners Dumbleton face a stiff test of their credentials with a visit to former finalists Apperley with the winners travelling to either Clearwell or Down Hatherley in round two.

Bredon, meanwhile, have been given home advantage in the early stages after being drawn against Wickwar on April 24 with the winners playing host to Haresfield a fortnight later.

Seventeen new villages have entered the 2005 competition that gets under way without cup holders Sully Centurions, one of a dozen clubs deemed ineligible because of their Premier League status.