Bradford League Cricket: Windhill are looking to beat old rivals East Bierley at Busy Lane tomorrow to boost their Secure Trust Bank First Div-ision championship credentials.

Although leaders Farsley have made a great start with six wins out of eight, all the signs are that the title race will remain wide open until late into the season.

Farsley have a four-point lead over second-placed Bierley, but only seven points separate the next six teams, including Windhill.

An interchange of players between the clubs and the fact that they have often met in cup competitions has intensified rivalry between Windhill and Bierley.

Windhill captain Mark Bradford said: "It seems to be a ritual we have got to play each other three times a season, and this year is no exception because we meet them in the Heavy Woollen Cup next Sunday."

After 18 months in Australia, which meant he missed last term, Bradford has returned to the club as captain and is delighted with the composition of his new- look team.

Overseas player Amol Muzumdar, who topped the First Division batting averages last year, was not able to return this time, but Bradford is pleased with his replacement, 20-year-old former New Zealand Under-19s batsman Lou Vincent.

Vincent, who is forming a good opening partnership with wicketkeeper Mark Gill - they have scored more than 500 runs between them - was recommended to Wind-hill by Laisterdyke's former New Zealander Martin Pringle.

Windhill are also pleased at the progress of 18-year-old David Paynter, son of former captain Mark. The Yorkshire Academy batsman is developing well as an off-spin bowler to give a new dimension to the Windhill attack, and he took six wickets in their three-wicket win at Bradford and Bingley on Monday.

The Gill brothers, both former Bierley players, are also playing significant parts. Mark, who happily combines the roles of opening batsman and wicketkeeper, scored 109 not out in the drawn match against Cleckheaton last Saturday, while his brother, Neil opens the bowling with another Windhill stalwart Greg Colehan.

Bradford has no doubt about Neil Gill's contribution. He said: "He regularly bowls 25 overs and is one of the unluckiest bowlers in the league. He is the heart and soul of Windhill at the moment - he keeps everyone going.

"I don't feel there is any pressure on me as a captain with the team I have got around me. Like every team in the league we have not been consistent, but we have got a bit of confidence now and I think we will be challenging.

"East Bierley is an important match for us. If we can win that one it will give our young-er players a lot of confidence, and everyone else as well."

In other First Division matches, last season's runners-up Baildon will be keen to narrow the gap between them and Farsley when the sides meet at Jenny Lane. Farsley whose early-season form has been one of the league's major talking points, are currently five points ahead of Baildon.

Third and fourth placed clubs, Hanging Heaton (29 points) and Pudsey St Lawrence (28) will fancy their chances at home to Pudsey Congs and Bankfoot respectively.

There is an intriguing Second Division derby at Bowling Old Lane, where second-placed Lidget Green are the visitors.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.