Ian Martin dedicated Baildon’s fourth Scratch League title in five years to the tremendous support shown by the club’s members.

His team reassumed the mantle of being the best in the Bradford Union after gaining the six points they needed in their final match at home to The Manor to guarantee the trophy returned to the village.

The competition went down to the wire after nearest rivals and defending champions Cleckheaton hammered them 7-1 in the penultimate match.

But the 6-2 last-day victory over their Drighlington-based visitors saw Baildon crowned champions by a single point from Cleck – just a week after one of their team, James Firth, had also clinched the Bradford Open.

Long-time scratch team player Martin said: “It’s always fantastic to win but the main thing was the great support, especially on Friday night when the weather was horrendous but there were still 25 to 30 people watching us. As ever, we like to win it for the club and for the members.”

With Cleckheaton having strengthened their squad and West Bradford fielding four ex-professionals, Baildon had to raise their game to get their name back on the honours board – where they have now been six times in the last 12 years.

Martin said: “Team spirit seems to pull us through. It’s great that we want to play for each other.

“Dan Teece would get in the majority of other scratch teams but he has only played three or four matches. But this year more than ever, it has shown how important every single match is – right down to scrambling a half.”

Baildon set off the season like a train, winning their first three matches 8-0, before a dip in the middle of the campaign opened up the race.

“They showed their strength in depth when, despite missing Martin and Firth, they thrashed rivals West Bradford 7-1 – Teece and Iain Walker stepping in well to link up with regulars Matt Roche and Chris Hargreaves.

Their 7-1 defeat to Cleckheaton in the next match meant the pressure was back on but Martin said: “Matt Roche’s half in that match meant we could still afford to lose a match in the final fixture against the Manor and gave us some breathing space.”

Martin, a former assistant-professional at Baildon, paid tribute to club captain Craig Moore and new professional Sean Wright.

He said: “Sean’s done well with me and with James. I don’t normally have lessons but he has helped make a difference, while Craig has not imposed his ideas on us but has asked us what tends to work and has provided us with what we need.”

Having first taught most of the scratch team when they were juniors, it was also fitting that Baildon should be crowned champions in the year that their long-serving professional Richard Masters stepped down.

Martin said: “He has provided fantastic service to the club. Speaking personally, I have worked for him and he is a great friend and has been a great pro for Baildon.

“Everyone wishes him well as he tries to make it on the Seniors Tours. It shows what a club Baildon is when a pro is there for 23 years.”