ONLY four clubs have won the JCT600 Bradford League First Division title since the new millennium.

The successes of Pudsey Congs (2000-04 and 2010), Woodlands (2005-08 and 2011-12), Cleckheaton (2013-14) and Baildon (2009) shows just how hard it is.

But Bradford & Bingley hope they have what it takes to join that exclusive recent club, with skipper Phil Slater saying: “It is certainly our ambition to win the league and the Priestley Cup.”

The Wagon Laners have definitely made a good start, being the only club in the top flight to win both their matches.

Of course, it helps if you can bowl the opposition out for under 90 – defending champions Cleckheaton were dismissed for 80 on the opening day and Lightcliffe were skittled for 83 last Saturday as Bradford & Bingley won by 164 runs and ten wickets respectively.

Slater hit a quick-fire 67 not out against Lightcliffe as rain threatened.

With the exception of Harry Smallwood leaving for Olicanian in the Aire-Wharfe League, Bingley seem to have recruited shrewdly in signing Leeds University student Billy Cookson.

Slater explained: “He is a middle-order batsman and wicketkeeper but he is batting for us down the order at the moment while Charlie Best has the gloves.”

However, Cookson did not do his cause any harm at all with 37 not out in their 244-9 against Cleckheaton, to go with Ryan Cooper’s 84, while Jack Hartley (7-47 against Cleckheaton), Matthew Simpson (5-43 against Lightcliffe) and Noman Ali (4-9 against Lightcliffe) have impressed with the ball.

Slater added: “When we have lost experienced players, we have tended to sign younger players and hope that they improve.

“But I have looked at all the sides in our division and they all look strong so we are not taking visitors Undercliffe (currently bottom) lightly tomorrow.”

Bradford & Bingley are only seven points ahead of second-placed Hanging Heaton, with Slater saying: “We would have liked 20 points from each match, but we know that if we bowl a side out for 83 then we can only get 15 points if we win.

“It is unfortunate but we understand the system and if we win all our matches then we will win the title.”

Two weekends ago, Bankfoot’s Greg Colehan became only the 16th bowler in the league’s 112 year history to reach 1,000 first-team wickets but has no intention of reaching for the golf clubs just yet on a Saturday afternoon.

He said: “I will bowl first or second change, and hopefully I can pass on some of my knowledge.”

Colehan was left stranded on 999 wickets sat the end of last season before trapping Spen Victoria’s Oliver Davison lbw.

“It was a long winter,” said Colehan, “and I had bowled six overs in my first spell and thought ‘oh no’ as friends and family were watching, but it was great to do it, and particularly in front of my dad Terry.”