Cricket: Simon Kay has one ambition for newly-promoted Bankfoot - to avoid relegation.

The Bankfoot captain said: "After winning promotion last season a successful year this time would be to finish fourth from the bottom in the First Division.

"We are just aiming to stay up this season and take it from there. And I believe we have got a side good enough to do that."

Bankfoot, who suffered an agonising 6-run defeat at Pudsey Congs last Saturday face a tough home match against leaders Farsley tomorrow.

But they will take heart from the fact that Farsley lost their 100 per cent record when East Bierley beat them by six wickets last Saturday and then neighbours Pudsey St Lawrence knocked them out of the Priestley Cup the following day.

Kay said: "We were disappointed to lose at Pudsey Congs. We put ourselves in a bad position at 42 for six facing a total of 179 for eight and although we recovered we still lost narrowly.

"What we have got to realise is that we have got to be spot-on for 50 overs whereas last season in the second division we could probably coast through games.

"The lesson we have got to learn is that there are no easy matches in the first division. Also, we must not just be satisfied to give Pudsey Congs a good game. To stay up we have got to take points off some of the bigger teams."

Kay is hoping that Bankfoot's three new signings, pace bowlers Nigel Hanson and Gurdev Singh from Bowling Old Lane and batsman Azam Khan will help them survive in the First Division.

He said: "Nigel and Gurdev took nearly 90 wickets between them for Bowling Old Lane in the First Division last season and we have high hopes of Azam Khan. He broke the Bradford League record for the highest individual score - 214 - while playing for Hartshead Moor in the Second Division last season and since then he has played in a couple of one day internationals for Pakistan and just missed out on their world cup squad.

"We feel we have got the bowlers we need - all five of our main bowlers, Nigel, Gurdiv, Charles Dracup, Paul Robinson and myself have experience of playing in the First Division. But we need some runs and we feel that Azam will be one of the players to keep us up."

Farsley hold a four point lead, but Bierley and Undercliffe who are four points behind are expected to put increasing pressure on them.

Bierley who have benefited from having Yorkshire players Anthony McGrath and Ian Fisher available for some of their early matches will be strong favourites to beat last seasons Second Divisions champions Cleckheaton at home and Undercliffe should beat next to the bottom Yorkshire Bank at Intake Road.

The Second Division, leaders Yeadon are at home to second placed Manningham Mills.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.