STEVE REAPE has been on tremendous form with Keighley Cricket Club with an astonishing early-season wicket haul.

Last weekend he took seven wickets for 19 runs in Saturday's game against Salts, who at the time were well up the table.

He followed up with six for 19 against Saltaire, but could not prevent the top club securing victory.

The Lawkholme lane club has enjoyed a bright start to the season, despite being knocked out of all the cup competitions. With their sights firmly focused ont he league they are now determined to push for the top, and promotion to the top flight of the Bradford League.

Reape could hold the secret to success for the young team, backed up by Australian Darren Docksey. In his last four games he has picked up 25 victims with wicket-hauls of 7-5-7-6 in the last four games.

"He is certainly enjoying a purple patch at the moment and may well be in the running for a league record," said club secretary Mike Parker.

The club had been looking to pick up maximum points over last weekend's double-header programme, and things started well.

Reape's 7-19 was backed up by 3-33 by Docksey as Salts were sent back to the pavilion for just 68 runs.

Lee Gordon dominated the replay, scoring 46 not out while his opening partner, Mark Beckett scored 14 not out on their way to a 10-wicket win.

They also got off to a bright start on Sunday when Saltaire were reduced to 28 for six wickets with the Keighley side already adding the winning points to their league total.

But the Saltaire lower order batsmen bit back with S Benzafar 47 and Ambepitiyia 57 as they shared an 82-run partnership.

They said the foundation for Saltiare to grind their way to a total of 172.

Keighley openers struggled to put together a match winning innings, and allthough mark Beckett scored 61 not out they could not secure victory.

That defeat left them in fourth place, eight points behind the leaders, but they have shown the can compete with the best in the division.