BRADFORD captain Tim Wade believes his side can be serious contenders for this season’s Yorkshire Inter-District title.

His confidence stems from having an extra game at home this year and his team’s impressive finish to the last campaign.

With a strong squad at his disposal, Wade feels Bradford are capable of claiming their first league crown since 2010.

“This year we probably have as good a chance as any of winning it,” he said.

“We have four matches at home and only three away and that makes a lot of difference.”

Wade admits a good start is vital if they are to challenge at the top, not just on Sunday when his side play Harrogate at Pannal but in the next two home games that follow.

He said: “After Harrogate, we host East Riding at Woodhall Hills (on June 14) and Leeds at Keighley (on June 29). If we can win those three matches we have momentum on a side when we go to York (who won last year’s title with seven wins out of seven) in July.”

Bradford experienced the flip side of the coin last year when their first victory did not come until their penultimate fixture.

Defeats to East Riding, York and Teesside, plus a draw with Leeds, left them staring at the possibility of the wooden spoon after four games.

But the turning point came with a battling draw against Sheffield – who had won all their previous matches – and Bradford clinched a fourth-place finish with wins over Halifax-Huddersfield and Harrogate.

Wade, who has also become the union’s league secretary, sensed a real team spirit develop in that revival and hopes it continues when his players tee off at Pannal this weekend, a venue where they won two years ago.

He expects Dane Bairstow and Nigel Colbeck – two players who have made good starts on the Yorkshire Order of Merit – to play lead roles, along with the likes of 2014 Karl Curran player of the year Terry Brushwood, Andy Town, Jack Laybourne and Chris Howe.

The experienced Mark Cook could also feature this season, though he is not in Sunday’s line-up and Town is unavailable due to work. Cleckheaton’s Chris Green, who featured prominently last year, has moved to Selby.

Wade said: “We have experienced players and our top six should be as good as any in the league.”

Bradford (v Harrogate at Pannal): Dane Bairstow (Bingley St. Ives), Terry Brushwood (Bingley St. Ives), Nigel Colbeck (Cleckheaton), James Darcy (Northcliffe), Martin Gaffney (Cleckheaton), Rob Hillas (Shipley), Chris Howe (Northcliffe), JD Hussain (Northcliffe), Jack Laybourne (Bingley St. Ives), Rob Malloy (Northcliffe), Jamie Mountain (Shipley), Henry Tetley (Bradford)