Ambitious skippers Chris Pickles and David Jay are locked in a head to head battle for the Bradford League Second Division Championship.

With three matches to go, Cleckheaton and Brighouse are assured of promotion, but that is not enough for Pickles and Jay who want to win the title.

Tomorrow the two sides meet at Cleckheaton who hold a one point advantage at the top, but Brighouse skipper David Jay said: "There is everything to play for. This match may not decide the title, but if either side get six points that would make them strong favourites."

With two First Division championships at East Bierley and one Second Division title at Manningham Mills, Jay must be one of the most successful captains in the Bradford League, but he is still hungry for more success.

He said: "I think Chris Pickles said at the beginning of the season that he wants to win the title and so do I. It is nice to be promoted but the aim is to win the league and not to be second."

Jay left Bierley at the end of the 1996 season to take over as captain of newly promoted Brighouse. But the club were relegated and, although they are going back at the first attempt, Jay is anxious that this time they establish themselves in Division One.

He said: "I don't want to decry the Second Division, but we want to be in the First. That is where the better cricket is played."

Jay, who has taken more than 60 wickets, takes encouragement from the fact that Brighouse are a stronger side this time than they were in the First Division last season and he is planning some team strengthening.

"We brought in more experience this year and will strengthen again," he said. "We want to build a side that will compete with everyone else, not necessarily to be challenging, but we don't want to be struggling either. We have used five bowlers, and the bonus has been Graeme Higgins. He is one of our leading batsmen, but I didn't think he would be fit to bowl. However, he has taken 30 wickets.

As for Cleckheaton, he said: "Chris Pickles will lead from the front. He is a danger to any side and he scores runs very quickly, but Cleckheaton are not a one man side and Carl Sharp, Paul Winrow and James Stansfield are useful performers to name but three."

In the First Division, joint leaders Bradford & Bingley and Baildon both face tough matches.

Bingley are at home to third placed Farsley while Baildon visit Pudsey Congs who could be strengthened by Yorkshire first team players Matthew Hoggard and James Middlebrook.

Matches start at 1pm.

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