Bradford Union captain Tim Wade believes that he has assembled a strong team ahead of their opening match, against main rivals Leeds, at Bingley St Ives this Sunday.

The Bradford line-up, which boasts plenty of experience, with the likes of Terry Brushwood and Mark Evans (Bingley St Ives), beat their local rivals last year but finished below them in fourth in the final league standings on points difference.

The team also features the reigning T&A golfer of the year, Will Whiteoak, and Wade is optimistic about their chances.

“I’ve been captaining the Bradford side for 20 years and this is certainly a good side we have now,” said Wade.

“We have an experienced team and that will stand us in good stead. Our top six players are all top amateur players and the bottom six will certainly hold their own.

“When we played Leeds last year it was eventually rained off but we still won the match, which was a great effort.

“We have gone with the same team this time around and, hopefully, the experience they’ve gained from it will give them an edge.

“But we finished below them in the league and this year we’ll certainly look to do better because we had a very poor season last year by our standards.”

Another former T&A golfer of the year who will be teeing off on his home course is former PGA EuroPro player Richard Wheatley.

Wheatley spent three years as a pro but he then famously swapped the fairways for the airways to pursue his dream career as a pilot.

But, after returning to high level amateur golf in last year’s match against Leeds, Wheatley will feature again in this season’s clash.

Wade added: “Richard started playing for us again last year and he did great.

“Obviously working at the airport has meant that it isn’t easy for him to play for us and to practice all the time, but considering that he is still a top amateur player who plays off scratch.”

Bradford team: Matthew Atter (Woodhall Hills), Terry Brushwood (Bingley St Ives), Ben Cheetham (South Bradford), Nigel Colbeck (Cleckheaton), Mark Evans (Bingley St Ives), James Flesher (Bradford), George Grant (Skipton), Chris Green (Cleckheaton), Calum Hey (Keighley), Jack Laybourne (Bingley St Ives), Richard Wheatley (Bingley St Ives), Will Whiteoak (Bingley St Ives).