Golf: Baildon's new captain Peter Baxter leads his Scratch League champions into the opening game of the season tomorrow determined to clinch a hat-trick of titles.

Baxter faces a tough task as Baildon bid to become only the fourth club after Northcliffe, West Bradford and West Bowling to win Division One three years running, but revealed: "I am very positive about the coming season.

"It is our second defence and we are going for a hat-trick, so there is obviously no pressure on me at all!

"But we have a very strong squad and the mainstays of our team - Ian Martin, Chris Hargreaves, Matthew Roche and David Beever - will all be available to face Bingley St Ives tomorrow night.

"We also have Tom Good-ing, who was tenth in the English junior championships at Farnborough, Dan Teece, who is off two, and Martin Brown, an ex-pro to call on.

"There is a lot to look forward to this season and I can't wait for Alwoodley in August when we will be competing in the Yorkshire First Division team championships."

For the past two seasons Baildon have just pipped West Bradford to the title by a point, but Baxter predicted: "I don't think West Bradford will be our main danger this time. I think Northcliffe will be the main challengers.

"They have young Simon Bell in excellent form and his father Martin Bell's game has improved recently. They have also recruited well during the winter."

Northcliffe, who won Division One from 1994-96, have regained Gareth Evans after his brief spell at Cleckheaton and gained James Firth from Shipley.

West Bradford will be extra keen to make up for the last two disappointments in their centenary year, but have lost Paul Thomas to the professional ranks.

"It will be a tall order without someone like Paul, al-though his appearances were limited last year because of his Bradford and Yorkshire commitments," admitted club captain Keith Sutcliffe.

"But we have a strong squad with Darryl Berry and Mark Evans, plus Julian Townsend and Chris Musgrave - two who have come through our junior ranks.

"Then there's the experienced Richard Ellis, who plays now and again, and we also have Gary Purcell, who is down to four-handicap.

"Baildon will clearly be the team to compete with and Cleckheaton should be thereabouts, but it looks like being between ourselves, Baildon and Northcliffe for the title."

Tomorrow sees the first fixture for newcomers Hollins Hall, who are away to West Bowling in Division Four.

Opening day fixtures - Division One: Baildon v Bingley St Ives, Northcliffe v Keighley, West Bradford v Rawdon. Division Two: Cleckheaton v Shipley, Fulneck v Bradford, Woodhall Hills v Ghyll. Division Three: Branshaw v Clayton, Calverley v Headley, Skipton v Ben Rhydding. Division Four: Riddles-den v Bracken Ghyll, The Manor v Phoenix Park, West Bowling v Hollins Hall.

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