WEST Bowling have set their targets high for their 70th anniversary year as a rugby league club.

Wests kick off their 2020 National Conference Division One campaign on Saturday when they host Wigan St Patricks, with a number of former players set to be in attendance to remember the date.

Ryan Hunkin’s side had a great season last time out, securing promotion to the higher league after winning Division Two.

The Bradford side also followed up their remarkable run to the third round of the 2019 Coral Challenge Cup by repeating the same feat this year, narrowly missing out on a passage through after a 28-22 loss to Betfred League One team Workington Town.

The Bowling head coach is keen to make clear that his side are not entering this term’s league campaign to survive, as he believes successive promotions are an achievable aim.

Hunkin said: “The games we have had in the Challenge Cup have whetted the appetite. We want the game time and getting back in the swing of things with week in and week out competition.

“It has always been the target to progress, and I have got a group of players who are capable of stepping up levels.

“It is our 70th anniversary so we want to celebrate that with some silverware.

“It will be nice to get an idea of what the past players think about the present players and how they play. I will be interested to get their views over a few beers after the game.

“If you aim for less than promotion you are doing yourself an injustice. What is the point of putting out a competitive side if you just want safety? It is not ambitious enough for us, we want to be promoted.”

With a permanent move to Horsfall waiting for confirmation, Hunkin was confident that seeing out the season at current ground Emsley Recreation Ground will happen.