Bankfoot set the standard (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bankfoot set the standard

10:55pm Thursday 2nd July 2009 in

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There is no question who has been the standout team in the JCT600 Bradford League Division Two this season.

With 11 wins from 12 matches, Bankfoot are on course to return to the top flight for the first time since 2005.

The Odsal side have flirted with the promotion race over the last three years without being major players.

That has changed this season and the leaders’ tally of 198 points is the best in both divisions.

Skipper Rob Ellis said: “I can’t believe how well the season has gone. We started well and have just kept going.”

Then on second thoughts, Ellis added: “Well, I can believe it because we have got a good side together. But we have only lost one game – you can’t do much better than that.”

The teenage Walmsley twins – Marcus and Edward – have been at the forefront since joining from Cleck-heaton in the close season.

Ellis said: “They’ve been fantastic. They are only 18 but their cricketing brains are for more advanced than that.

“Some of their innings have been superb. But it’s not just been with the bat, it’s also with the ball and in the field.”

Both averaged over 40 with the bat by the halfway mark to feature in the divison’s top ten batting averages.

Marcus was fifth in the bowling list with 23 wickets at 11.30 and Edward not that far behind in 16th with 16 wickets at a cost of 17.31.

Bankfoot’s South African overseas player Greg Foth-eringham led the second tier’s halfway batting stats with 537 runs at 59.67 (team-mate Jon Barton was second with 58.67).

Ellis said: “The difference with Greg (compared with previous overseas players) is that he has made match-winning scores.

“He has made two tons and when he gets in, he really dominates and takes the game away from the opposition.”

His form saw him called up for Durham seconds this week and he responded by making three figures.

Greg Colehan was third in the halfway bowling averages with 31 wickets at 10.42. The stalwart took three for 28 in their two-run defeat to Bradford & Bingley in the Priestley Cup quarter-final.

As agonising as that loss was, Ellis acknowledged that pushing the Division One leaders so close bodes well for their top-flight ambitions.

He said: “We also beat Saltaire and it’s good to see we can compete against these sides.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do and there are ten games still to go. But so far, so good.”

Bankfoot play the only side who have beaten them on Saturday when Keighley are the visitors.

Steve Reape’s men are just off the pace in fifth spot and Ellis said: “Keighley are a good team and I am surprised they are where they are. They were better than us when we played them and we are sure to have a game on our hands.”

Second-placed Undercliffe visit third-placed Windhill in the division’s other big game.

Meanwhile, Division One leaders Bradford & Bingley aim to extend their unbeaten league run to 12 matches at Farsley.

Second-placed Baildon have a blank Saturday but third-placed Pudsey St Lawrence will be looking to keep the heat on the leaders at home to bottom side Hanging Heaton.

The Batley outfit’s only success so far came against champions Woodlands and they could do with another shock win to avoid being cut adrift.