Exasperated skipper Paul Hutchison did not mince his words as he analysed East Bierley’s crushing 104-run defeat at Pudsey St Lawrence.

The result enabled St Lawrence to increase their lead at the top of the Bradford League First Division to 22 points and Hutchison offered no excuses for his side’s disappointing performance.

Hutchison, who began his career at St Lawrence, said: “Pudsey deserved their victory. They outplayed us in all departments. They were good, we were shocking.

“We are missing two key bowlers this season – Chris Elstub and Kez Ahmed – and that is going to be hard for us, but we are not standing up to be counted, me included.

“If we have got ambitions to be in the shake-up at the end of the season we have got to improve very quickly, otherwise we will be out of it almost before the season has started.”

One of the big differences between the sides was a fine innings of 119 not out by former Nottinghamshire all-rounder Gareth Clough.

Clough, who hit 11 fours and four sixes, took the game away from Bierley in a fifth-wicket stand of 146 with Chris Marsden after St Lawrence were in early trouble at 42 for three.

Clough and David Hester (32) began the recovery with a fourth-wicket stand of 62 before Clough and Marsden – caught on the boundary edge for 55 just before the end – put St Lawrence firmly in control as they reached 251 for five.

Yet, as Hutchison pointed out, Clough was dropped three times.

“When you have got someone who has played ten or 12 years at first class level you don’t give him chances,” said Hutchison.

It soon became clear that St Lawrence’s total was way beyond Bierley’s normally reliable batting line-up as they slumped to 39 for four, with Gharib Razak, Greg Wood, Rennison and Ismail Dawood all dismissed for single figures as Matthew Lumb and Gary Severn each took two wickets.

Gavin Hamilton, who tried to hold the innings together with a defiant 44 in 105 minutes, gave Bierley hope with a fifth-wicket stand of 51 with Thomas Owens.

However, Bierley then slumped from 90 for four to 94 for eight and the game was up, with off-spinner Marsden, back earlier than expected after a knee operation, wrapping up the lower order with four for 26.

Smith said: “It is a very open league but we couldn’t have asked for a better start.

“We were 80 for three at halfway. That was a tough position against a team like East Bierley but that is why we have strength in depth to get a big total.

“At that stage I would have settled for 180 or 200, but Gareth Clough is a class act in our side. He has got talent, he’s a match-winner and that makes a difference.”