BRADFORD Veterans' first team made a great start to their Yorkshire League programme when the first round of fixtures took place at Heckmondwike.

Bradford captain Richard Aitken led Bradford to promotion from Division Two last season and they have a stronger squad in what will be a much tougher campaign.

Aitken is joined by Phil Cawser, Simon Pugh and Mick Stead and the team enjoyed a dream start to take top spot.

The fixture list was kind to start with, as Bradford swept aside York-1 9-1 and Wakefield-1 10-0, with Cawser taking six out of six.

The final match against Dewsbury promised to be a tricky one but Bradford came flying out of the traps and won the first six to settle the issue.

Cawser was again the star as he maintained his unbeaten start with a treble. Pugh won two and Aitken a single as Bradford were 7-3 victors to take top place on sets average along with Hull-1 and Leeds-1.

The next round of fixtures in January will be decisive as Bradford face Hull, Leeds and Huddersfield-1.

In the Bradford League, there was an entertaining contest in Division One, with two of the bottom three facing each other.

Pudsey A entertained Embassy Yeadon B and they were looking for their second win of the season. Pudsey began well and at halfway led 4-1. Bryan Birkbeck had two close wins over Kevin Pickles and Jac Dabrowski, while Adam Ridley also won twice.

Embassy Yeadon hit back to lead 5-4 as Dabrowski and Fred Yeung both won two and Pickles won one. Pudsey eventually settled for a draw, as Birkbeck and Richard Abrahams won the doubles.

Results:

Division One: Pudsey A 5 Embassy Yeadon B 5, Hermits A 10 Unity B 0, Heckmondwike 3 Embassy Yeadon A 7.

Division Two: Embassy Yeadon D 8 Pudsey B 2, Hermits B 8 Fastbats 2, Hermits C 7 Baildon A 3, Hermits D 0 Highdale B 10, Hermits E 0 Embassy Yeadon C 10.

Division Three: Hermits H 9 Baildon C 1, Baildon B 3 Hermits F 7, Thornbury A 0 Rastrick 10.

Division Four: Baildon E 2 Unity C 8, Thornbury B 0 Hermits J 10.