Skipper Ian Philliskirk paid tribute to his side’s team ethic yesterday as Baildon celebrated their first JCT600 Bradford League Division One championship for 57 years.

Few pundits forecast Baildon would finish top at the start of the season, but they made a blistering start by winning their first eight matches and recovered from a mid-season blip to finish seven points clear of second-placed Bradford & Bingley.

Baildon lost at home to third-placed East Bierley on the final day of the season, but the seven points they gained were more than enough to seal their championship triumph, despite Bingley’s crushing ten- wicket win at home to Gomersal.

“It is a fantastic feeling,” said Philliskirk. “We got a bit of confidence at the start of the season, beating the so-called big teams and winning our first eight matches and, although we then lost three on the bounce, we started on a run again.”

While stressing the importance of teamwork, Philliskirk reserved special praise for three players.

He said: “Mushtaq Ahmed is 'Mr Consistency' and the best spinner in the league, and the biggest appreciation goes to Craig Hitchenor and Andy Walker, who have been absolutely brilliant.

“Craig has been a great vice-captain and the JCT Player of the Year award just has to go to Andy. His performances have won us the league.”

Baildon went into the match 15 points clear of Bingley needing six points to be sure of winning the title, providing that Bingley could take a maximum 20 points from their home match against Gomersal.

However, once they learned that Gomersal were losing wickets quickly after winning the toss and deciding to bat first at Wagon Lane, Baildon knew they would need only one point as the most Bingley could achieve from their expected win was 15 points.

That point was gained as early as the fifth over when left-arm paceman Walker dismissed Kez Ahmed to reduce Bierley to 19 for two, and they had them struggling at 71 for five.

Then Philliskirk decided to use some of his occasional bowlers and Bierley took advantage to recover to 242 for eight, with Greg Wood making a superb 111, including three sixes and 14 fours.

Baildon, clearly in a celebratory mood, replied with 185, with Johnny Reynolds making 43 and Philliskirk 39. Off-spinner Kez Ahmed took five for 81 as Bierley gained maximum 20 points from their 57-run win.

Philliskirk admitted that once they knew the title was theirs, the match was ‘a bit of an anti-climax – we just wanted to get on with the celebrations.’ England and Yorkshire pace bowler Matthew Hoggard ripped through Gomersal’s batting line-up, taking seven for 25 as Bingley thrashed the visitors after shooting them out for 70.

At the other end of the table, Hanging Heaton and Manningham Mills were relegated.

Both suffered last-day defeats, Hanging Heaton going down by 58 runs at Pudsey Congs while Mills lost by two wickets at Woodlands, home opener Sam Frankland scoring 107 not out.

Saltaire, who were in danger of relegation, banished any lingering fears with a six-wicket win at Yeadon after bowling out the home side for a mere 43 with Yassir Abbas taking six for ten, while Ian Wood took seven for 48 as Cleckheaton beat Farsley by 39 runs.