Brighouse, promoted last season as runners-up behind Keighley, are turning a few heads in the SDS Bradford League First Division.

Spearheaded by Pakistani Riz-wan Ahmed, they are fourth in the table on 48 points, which puts them six points in front of Bail-don and seven ahead of East Bierley.

Victories over Idle and under-strength Keighley are the main reasons for Brighouse's lofty position, which has even surprised their experienced opening batsman Gary Wainwright.

He said: "Hopefully we can keep picking up one or two points here and there and stay where we are, but we are also aware that we have our tougher fixtures to come."

Wainwright, whose wife Emma is expecting their third child imminently, added: "Our main strength is probably our batting."

And their main contributor there has been Ahmed, who scored 63 not out against Sal-taire, 107 against Farsley and 53 against Pudsey St Lawrence in successive league matches.

"He is absolute class," said an admiring Wainwright. "He is probably the best overseas player I have seen as a complete package as he also bowls spin.

"But we haven't just been relying on him. I have made a couple of fifties, Mark Gilliver has contributed, and even down to No 7 or No 8 we have had runs from people like Mark Horne."

Wainwright, who will play at home to Bradford & Bingley if his child has arrived by noon tomorrow, added: "Every time we bat we are at least getting close to 200, which is good.

"Our bowling isn't quite as good but we have to remember this is the Bradford League First Division."

Top match of the day tomorrow is fifth-placed Idle's visit to second-placed Pudsey Congs, while leaders Pudsey St Law-rence are at Saltaire.

Woodlands, 14 points behind Saints in third, have a winnable contest at Morley, while both Keighley and Cleckheaton will be hoping to break their seasonal ducks.

Cellar dwellers Keighley are at home to sixth-placed Baildon, while second-from-bottom Cleck-heaton, who were fifth last season, are at mid-table Farsley.

Keighley were hampered by an early-season wedding but now they are back to something like strength must now be wary of being cast adrift.

Hanging Heaton may have beaten Woodlands in the Heavy Woollen Cup but their league form leaves a lot to be desired.

The Bennett Lane club, who are third from bottom, are at home to fellow under-achievers East Bierley, who made a slow start to last season but began better this time.

FORM TEAMS CLASH

One of the matches of the day in the Second Division pits fourth-placed Esholt at home to third-placed Great Horton.

Both sides finished in mid-table last season but have made encouraging starts to the new campaign.

Great Horton won their opening three games, against Hartshead Moor, Lightcliffe and Gomersal, before last week's clash at Bankfoot was abandoned. But that was probably a blessing in disguise as Great Horton were reeling at 29 for six.

Skipper Gulbar Ahmed said: "We were put into bat in tough conditions. One ball would get up and the next would stay low. But we have made a brilliant start. We have a young team and we hope to keep it going and challenge for promotion."

Esholt contain two of the division's form men. Ben Lister took all six wickets before his side's match against Hartshead Moor was abandoned, and this came on the back of a four for eight spell against neighbours Windhill. Richard Whitehurst is fifth in the division's highest run-scorers, thanks to 133 against Gomersal.