Pudsey Congs, JCT600 Bradford League champions as recently as 2010, are normally to be found in the top four of Division One.

However, with this weekend marking a third of the way through a rain-hit campaign, Congs are in the bottom two.

They have 45 points, which only betters 2011 runners-up Farsley (39).

However, Saltaire and Undercliffe are only a decent bonus-point haul above the Britannia Ground boys, and skipper Andy Bairstow, brother of England star Jonny, says: “There is no panic.

“There would be if it was September but ring me back in five or six weeks and see where we are then.”

After just two victories in six matches, though, Bairstow readily admitted: “We are a team in transition. We have some very good youngsters and they are learning but we are lacking consistency “In-form opening batsmen Nick Lindley and Gareth Phillips have a good relationship that was forged in their school days, and Edward Walmsley is learning all the time about spin bowling.

“If anything, it has been the older guys in the middle order who have let us down.”

Victories over Manningham Mills and Undercliffe have been outweighed by defeats against Saltaire, East Bierley, Bradford & Bingley and Pudsey St Lawrence.

However, wins over Cleckheaton and Hartshead Moor have also been achieved in the Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup.

Congs are at home to Hanging Heaton in the last eight on Sunday, June 17, and Bairstow said: “The cup is definitely a focus.”

Hanging Heaton will be familiar foes by the time they square up in ten days’ time as the sides play in the league on Saturday at Intake Road and the Batley side will be there again on Tuesday in the Dyson Insulations Twenty20 Cup. Meanwhile, league leaders Woodlands will be defending their 100 per cent record at Saltaire on Saturday.