BRADFORD & Bingley have turned things around after a miserable 2018 season in the All Rounder Bradford Premier League Premier Division, with pace bowler Jack Hartley saying it would be “unjust” if his side finished in mid-table this year.

The 25-year-old was quick to praise the team spirit in the 2019 squad, saying that it helped that many of the side’s youngsters had been playing cricket together for many years.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s final matches of the season, at high-flying Townville (tomorrow) and at home to struggling Wrenthorpe (Sunday), Hartley said: “Our captain Matthew Duce is 37 or 38 but I’m probably next in terms of experience at 25.

“But we said after last season (where Bingley won only four of 22 league games) that we needed to change the culture of the club.

“I helped out getting a few players in that I knew from the Aire-Wharfe League and the Evening League. We’ve taken a chance on some young players, that we thought might not be ready, but everyone’s contributed and there’s no real superstars in the team.

"The team spirit's been good and a lot of the players have grown up together. Our second team have had a great year too and they could still go up."

One youngster at the club who has played at a higher level than the rest is 20-year-old Harry Brook, who has been a part of Yorkshire’s first team set up since 2016. Hartley said that the Keighley batsman has proved his worth to Bingley on more than one occasion.

He said: “Harry’s a first-class player. We threw away our last game at Woodlands (a six-run defeat) but he scored 39 and was the only one who looked comfortable on that deck.

“It’s a double-edged sword for Harry, as the more he plays for us, it means he’s probably doing less well for Yorkshire but he’s won us at least three games on tough pitches with vital 30s or 40s.

“He’s actually bowled really well too. He takes wickets and doesn’t give much to hit either.

“He’s been backed up by the three quick bowlers, including myself, who enjoy the pace and bounce, but that suits us both ways because we like the ball coming on to the bat too.

“Dan Revis and Callum Goldthorp have really done well up top for us.”

Hartley has taken 35 league wickets so far this year and admitted that he had a personal goal of 40.

He could achieve that this weekend, and speaking about both games, he said: “Townville have come out of nowhere to drop us down to second and they’re the real form team at the moment. They're a good side with players that gel like ours.

"As for Wrenthorpe, everyone can beat anyone on their day. They beat (champions) Woodlands this season and even last year, we stuffed Hanging Heaton who came third.

"It's our team night out on Saturday but we've still got to turn up on Sunday. It wouldn't be fair on the other teams in the league otherwise and besides, we'd feel it unjust if we finished fifth or sixth after the season we've had."

WEEKEND CRICKET FIXTURES

TOMORROW:

All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League (noon)

Premier Division: Lightcliffe v Methley, Wrenthorpe v Pudsey St Lawrence, Townville v Bradford & Bingley, Hanging Heaton v Undercliffe, Woodlands v Cleckheaton, New Farnley v Farsley. Championship One: Hartshead Moor v Wakefield St Michael's, Ossett v Scholes, Morley v Pudsey Congs, Gomersal v Baildon, Keighley v Batley, Bankfoot v East Bierley.

Championship Two: East Ardsley v Altofts, Birstall v Spen Victoria, Bowling Old Lane v Hopton Mills, Adwalton v Hunslet Nelson, Buttershaw St Paul’s v Jer Lane, Liversedge v Carlton, Northowram Fields v Yeadon.

Conference: Crossbank Methodists v Brighouse, East Leeds v Sandal, Gildersome & Farnley Hill v Heckmondwike & Carlinghow, Great Preston v Rodley, Oulton v Windhill & Daisy Hill.

Second teams – Premier Division: Yeadon v Lightcliffe, Pudsey St Lawrence v Bowling Old Lane, Pudsey Congs v Morley, Baildon v Hanging Heaton, Batley v Woodlands, East Bierley v New Farnley.

Championship One: Methley v East Ardsley, Carlton v Ossett, Bradford & Bingley v Northowram Fields, Undercliffe v Gomersal, Cleckheaton v Keighley, Farsley v Bankfoot.

Championship Two: Altofts v Hartshead Moor, Spen Victoria v Birstall, Hopton Mills v Wrenthorpe, Brighouse v Oulton, Jer Lane v Great Preston, Scholes v Liversedge, Wakefield St Michael's v Townville.

Conference: Hunslet Nelson v Crossbank Methodists, Sandal v East Leeds, Heckmondwike & Carlinghow v Gildersome & Farnley Hill, Rodley v Buttershaw St Paul’s, Windhill & Daisy Hill v Adwalton.

Aire-Wharfe League (12.30)

Division One: Bilton v Burley in Wharfedale, Collingham & Linton v Otley, Follifoot v Ilkley, Horsforth v Rawdon, North Leeds v Addingham, Pool v Adel.

Division Two: Beckwithshaw v Bardsey, Ben Rhydding v Guiseley, Colton Institute v Tong Park Esholt, Kirkstall Educational v Olicanian, New Rover v Steeton, Saltaire v Horsforth Hall Park.

Division Three: Alwoodley v Skipton, Calverley St Wilfrids v St Chads Broomfield, Green Lane v North Leeds, Harden v Bolton Villas, Menston v Thackley, Tong Park Esholt v Leeds Modernians.

Bradford Mutual Sunday School League (1.30)

Group A: Bradford Moor YCA v Apperley Bridge, Girlington v Omars, Hallfield v Great Horton Church, Yorkshire Friends v Bradford Gymkhana, Yorkshire LPS v Salem Athletic.

Group B: Allerton v Hallfield, Bradford Indians v Girlington, Cambing v Bowling Baptist, Great Horton Church v Greenfield, Salem Athletic v Northcliffe. Group V: Bowling Baptist v Yorkshire LPS, Bradford Gymkhana v TABS, Bradford Phoenix v Central YMCA, Greenfield v West Bowling, Mandhata v Allerton.

Craven League (1.30) –

Division One: Bingley Congs v Foulridge, Cowling v Barrowford, Denholme v Crossflatts, Haworth v Embsay, Ingrow v Sutton in Craven, Oakworth v Haworth Road Meths.

Division Two: Barrowford v Cononley, Crossflatts v Hepworth & Idle, Eldwick & Gilstead v Bradford & Bingley, Gargrave v Sandy Lane, Haworth Road Meths v Wilsden, Long Lee v Airedale.

Division Three: Embsay v Haworth, Foulridge v Bingley Congs, Glusburn v Bradley, Hepworth & Idle v Oakworth, Silsden v Riddlesden, Skipton CI v Thornton in Craven.

Division Four: Bingley Congs v Gargrave, Bradley v Glusburn, Cononley v Skipton CI, Keighley v Cowling, Sutton in Craven v Ingrow, Wilsden v Long Lee.

Dales Council League (1.00)

Division A: Cookridge v Bradford Moor, Halifax Direct v Mayfield, Leeds Sikh v Drighlington, Savile Stars v Thornbury, Woodhouse v Leeds Caribbean.

Division B: Baildon v OneStop, Muff Field v Halifax Direct, Pudsey St Lawrence v Adel, Thornbury v Leeds Sikh, Tong Park Esholt v Cookridge.

Division C: Drighlington v Muff Field, Mayfield v Interlink, Morley v Baildon, St Chads Broomfield v Cookridge.

Halifax League (1.30)

Premier Division: Copley v Warley, Mytholmroyd v Booth, Oxenhope v Illingworth St Mary’s, Shelf Northowram Hedge Top v Thornton, Sowerby St Peters v Sowerby Bridge CI, Triangle v Sowerby Bridge.

Division One: Bridgeholme v Southowram, Clayton v Great Horton Park Chapel, Mount v Blackley, Upper Hopton v Bradshaw.

Division Two: Cullingworth v Augustinians, Low Moor HT v Outlane, Old Town v Greetland, Queensbury v Leymoor, Stones v Bradley & Colnebridge.

SUNDAY:

All Rounder Bradford Premier League (noon)

Premier Division: Methley v New Farnley, Farsley v Woodlands, Cleckheaton v Hanging Heaton, Undercliffe v Townville, Bradford & Bingley v Wrenthorpe, Pudsey St Lawrence v Lightcliffe.

Second teams – Premier Division: New Farnley v Yeadon, Woodlands v East Bierley, Hanging Heaton v Batley, Morley v Baildon, Bowling Old Lane v Pudsey Congs, Lightcliffe v Pudsey St Lawrence.

Championship Two: Oulton v Liversedge.