It’s top against bottom in JCT600 Bradford League Division One tomorrow as Bradford & Bingley take on Cleckheaton at Wagon Lane.
After losing their opening game at Farsley to a Lorenzo Ingram onslaught, Bradford & Bingley have reeled off four straight wins.
In contrast, Cleckheaton have lost four of their five games and currently prop up the table five points adrift of Manningham Mills.
After finishing runners-up for the past two seasons, Bradford & Bingley are many people’s tip for this year’s title.
Their victory in last season’s Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup has strengthened the belief that they are now a team capable of winning the championship.
They also have arguably the most settled side in Division One. All of the players, with the exception of talented Sri Lankan all-rounder Naweed Ghany, have been with the club for three seasons or more.
Skipper Phil Slater admits: “There is a good spirit in the team and it helps that we have had a settled line-up.
“Everybody has chipped in at different times and that has been one of the most pleasing things so far this season.”
Slater added: “It is nice to be at the top of the table, particularly as everybody has now lost at least one game.
“In the past two seasons we have let ourselves down by losing games we should have won.
“We have to keep our focus and try to put together the sort of winning run that took Pudsey Congs to the title last season.
“We know the strength of the league and that everybody is capable of beating everybody else. Just because Cleckheaton are bottom doesn’t make them a bad side.
“The title is won over 22 matches and we have a lot of work to do.”
One of the most intriguing games tomorrow pits Farsley, who are second, against fourth-placed Pud-sey St Lawrence.
Both teams were defeated last Saturday and will be striving to make sure they don’t lose ground on Bradford & Bingley.
Two teams who appear to be running into good form are Woodlands and East Bierley.
Skipper Pieter Swanepoel and spinner Chris Brice have been taking wickets consistently for Woodlands, while the East Bierley revival has been triggered by their batsmen.
Andrew Rennison’s un-beaten 102 carried them to victory over Farsley last week, while Gharib Razak and Lee Goddard were in good form in the Priestley Cup win over Lightcliffe.
Woodlands will be looking for their fourth successive league success when they entertain Baildon, while East Bierley visit third-placed Hanging Heaton, who were beaten in both the league and Priestley Cup last weekend.
Two teams who are anxious for points to pull away from the relegation zone are Undercliffe and Manning-ham Mills. The Intake Road side, fresh from their first win of the season against Gomersal, are away to champions Pudsey Congs.
Mills will hope to arrest their recent slide at Gomersal, a ground that has produced a stack of runs this season.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article