Bradford Premier: Consistency proving elusive for leading title rivals

Current leaders New Farnley, chasing their maiden league title, are 14 points clear, with the usual suspects of Pudsey St Lawrence and Hanging Heaton waiting in the wings for any slip-ups, along with Farsley.

A little bit further down are another heavyweight in the shape of Woodlands, with Methley not too far behind either.

All told, 37 points separate Methley, in sixth, and Farnley – in a season which has been characterised by defeats for top sides at certain junctures, with no-one quite having it their own way.

In the past six weeks, Hanging Heaton and St Lawrence have both lost to Methley, while Woodlands have gone down to Cleckheaton, Lightcliffe and Bradford and Bingley. Another big surprise saw Scholes beat Farsley.

It remains to be seen if high summer can see any side make a break for home in an unpredictable, if compelling season so far.

Woodlands cricket secretary Brian Pearson, whose side saw off Townville in a high-scoring game on Saturday, said: “You cannot call it at the moment. We have got to halfway and I would say that everybody has had a couple of hiccups.

“There are a number of teams who are all capable. Even the likes of Scholes, although they do not seem to be having enough good days.

“Methley are capable and Grant (Soames) has done well there and they have just beaten St Lawrence.

“You could almost count them in that top pack with Matthew Waite back. They have had their hard games coming into the ‘easier’ ones.

“It is a strong division which is borne out by the strength in depth of sides. It is all about how far you bat down and if you have a strong bowling unit that gets you to where you need to be.”

Currently top of the shop are Farnley, a side well-stocked with a host of talented individuals, but who have found consistency hitherto elusive, although their strong first-half of the current campaign suggests that they might just last the course this time and be in with a firm shout come August and September.

Pearson added: “New Farnley are obviously working hard to get their hands on the title and it will depend very much as to what sides that they can put out (regularly) as they are coming from all over.

“I noticed (Martin) Andersson was not playing on Saturday, but they have (Andrew) Brewster, the opening bowler, back and it looks as though (Andrew) Hodd will play for them for the rest of the season now.

“If they can put their full side out most weeks, they are a threat and it is a pretty well-balanced side.”

Proof of the inconsistent nature of the league this season arrived on Saturday, with Farnley recovering from a decidedly ropey 38-5 to post a much more presentable total of 231-8 against lowly Bradford and Bingley.

It was chiefly thanks to a magnificent sixth-wicket stand worth 167 between Steve Bullen (88) and Joe Bedford (63no).

Replying, B&B were dismissed for 158, with spinner Dave McCallum taking centre-stage with an eye-catching 6-43 with only one Bingley player scoring over thirty.

Meanwhile, Woodlands and Townville both made hay in batsman-friendly conditions at Poplar Avenue, but it was the fifth placed visitors who prevailed.

Tim Jackson’s side totalled an impressive 272-5, with Jackson (72) sharing in a stand of 100 with Ishfaq Ahmed (63), Richie Bresnan taking 4-58 for the hosts.

Replying, Townville fell short at 250 all out, with Kez Ahmed bagging 5-56.