Morley, who are third in JCT600 Bradford League Division Two, are benefiting from a canny blend of youth and experience.

The Scatchard Laners, who have the nous of players such as opening batsman Gary Wainwright, Adam Larkin, Colin Nuthall and skipper Matt Baxter, are also not afraid to throw in the youngsters.

Yorkshire Academy player James McNichol, 17, has been opening the batting and George Robson, just 16, has proved an all-round star as the club have progressed to the Dyson Insulations Twenty20 semi-finals.

Chris Rodwell is another junior with potential but the younger end are balanced out by the experience of others such as pace bowler Nathan Bromby and overseas star Kashif Naveed.

McNichol scored 25 in adding 53 with Naveed (34) and took 3-9 with his medium-pacers as Morley lost a low-scoring encounter by ten runs at home to Great Horton last Sunday.

Wainwright, who has returned to the Bradford League after a spell at Buttershaw St Paul’s in the Central Yorkshire League, said: “Matt gives the young lads an opportunity on some occasions during a game when I might not if I had been captain, but, credit to him and them, they are coming off.

“James cannot play for us every week because of his Academy duties but he is doing well.”

The outlying Bradford League club’s total of 106 points is only bettered in their section by Baildon (112) and Yeadon, who have 135 points but have played 11 games – one more than all in the division apart from basement club Idle.

Wainwright said: “The club is buzzing at the moment, with players down for practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“It would be nice if we could get promoted but, if not, the young lads will be a year older and wiser.”

The former Bankfoot opener is not surprised by the success of Yeadon and Baildon but is surprised that Keighley aren’t higher than seventh.

It is another double weekend for Division Two this weekend, and Morley have Idle at home on Saturday and visit second-from-bottom Brighouse on Sunday.

Wainwright said: “The toss is so vital and we are not taking anything for granted this weekend, but if we want to get promotion then we should be aiming for 35 to 40 points from these two matches.”

Baildon entertain Windhill (sixth) on Saturday and Keighley on Sunday, while the latter host Hartshead Moor (fourth) on Saturday. Moor are at Great Horton (fifth) on Sunday.