Oakworth and Haworth celebrate their 107th 'Worth Valley Derby' on Saturday -- with the Oaks keen to continue their recent run of victories.

The first match between Oakworth Wesleyans and Haworth Wesleyans was played on May 13, 1893 when the Haworth boys won by 15 runs.

Since then the 'Meths' as they became known held the upper hand against the Oaks, particularly in the former West Bradford League. The 106 fixtures have produced 57 wins for the Bronte side with the Oaks picking up full points on 31 occasions.

In the current Craven League though the Oaks have had the whip hand, winning six out of eight matches since 1979.

The highest score on either side was 227-4 by Oaks in their run to the 1981 Second Division title. Match winner that day was current club chairman Wilf Scarborough with 75 not out. Marginally lower was Haworth's 225 on July 29, 1950 when they inflicted what remains the Cure Hill side's heaviest losing margin of 177 runs. Jack Inman led the way with 60, but J Greenwood with 6 for 21 skittled the Oaks for only 48.

The most exciting match in the series was arguably 1947 League Championship decider. The two sides met in the last match of the season with Oakowrth one point ahead of Haworth and Cross Roads. The Oaks had never won the West Bradford League and during the thirties were regarded as the League's whipping boys, regularly finishing in last place.

But post war the Oaks were a tougher bunch led by the late Edwin Greenwood, he top scored with a modest 22 in the Oaks total of 84 all out. J Jones had done the damage for the Meths with 6 for 45, but Oaks' Alec Laycock also picked up five Haworth scalps for 50. The last Haworth pair saw their team home by one-wicket and Haworth went on to beat Cross Roads in the play-off. Oaks finished third and never won the West Bradford championship.

The last time the two sides met in League combat was on July 9, 1988 at Oakworth when Mick Beckett led the charge to a three-wicket home win with 63 not out, despite G Bailey's 7 for 44. Haworth's Glen Ogden scored 50 runs in the earlier 1988 match at Haworth to lead his side to a 43 run victory.

As a survivor of that side he will be hoping to be on the winning side again on Saturday as will Oaks' Jeff Inman. Since that time Haworth have languished in the Second Division as they were relegated that year, but now they are back in the top drawer with Oakworth, who are currently top of the league, three points clear of the pack.

Oaks won't be complacent though as Haworth batsmen, Ratcliffe, Marsden and Rowell have racked up plenty of runs with with bowlers Godden and Rowell doing their bid to keep the team mid-table.

The Oaks top five are also in the runs with Haworth-born opener Steve Hartley and former Keighley Tech batsman Steve Lilley ahead of last year's top League batsman Michael Scarborough, Tim Brunskill and Nigel Lockley in the chase for runs. Bowlers Scarborough, Rankin, Jeffrey, Lockley and Inman provide one of the league's most potent spearheads.

It could also be a day for runs as there has never been a century scored in the Worth Valley Derby and Oakworth's Dave Parker holds the record for the high-score with 83 in a 1985 win by 124 runs.

The match starts at Haworth's Sun Street ground at 2pm.

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