TOWNVILLE have turned a few heads with their performances since winning promotion to The All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League’s Premier Division.

Last season’s Championship B winners currently occupy third place and are just 11 points adrift of leaders Hanging Heaton.

The strength of their title challenge will face a thorough examination over the next three weeks.

It starts with tomorrow’s home game with defending champions Pudsey Lawrence, and continues next week with a trip to second-placed Farsley.

Finally, they are at home to Hanging Heaton on July 1 - the only team to have defeated them in the league this season.

Townville avenged that loss last Sunday when they knocked Hanging Heaton out of the Heavy Woollen Cup with a performance that captain Nick Bresnan – brother of Yorkshire’s Tim – described as “the best of the season.”

Jack Hughes, one of the key figures in Townville’s emergence, scored 101.

Hughes currently averages 42.67 with the bat in league matches and is the top wicket taker in the Premier Division with 22.

Spinner Hughes has taken just one more wicket than Conor Harvey, another talented young all-rounder, playing a key role.

Bresnan at 33 is normally the oldest member in the team although tomorrow he loses that tag to former Leicestershire off spinner Peter Hepworth (50).

He comes into the side to deputise for Bresnan’s younger brother Richie whose partner has just given birth to their first child.

The bulk of the team are aged 18 to 24 and have shown this season that they are developing into fine cricketers.

Skipper Bresnan said: “I am happy to be captaining this side and seeing these player rise to the challenge.

“I was the only one in the team with any previous experience of playing at this level, but they have proved to be quick learners.

“When we saw the fixture list we realised that after playing Hanging Heaton in the opening game we had a run of winnable matches and that is how things have worked out.

“Now we have three tough ones against top teams and we are looking forward to the challenge. Last Sunday’s win over Hanging Heaton was our best performance. Now we want to build on it.”

Farsley will be hoping to consolidate their second position at home to Woodlands in another key game.

Hanging Heaton put their unbeaten record on the line at East Bierley while bottom team Batley seek their first win at home to inconsistent New Farnley.

Cleckheaton and Bradford & Bingley, both improving after slow starts, meet at Moorend while Pudsey Congs host Lightcliffe.