BRADFORD & Bingley CC captain Ed Brown is looking forward to taking on a “settled” Townville side in the Bradford League Premier Division this weekend.

Brown’s men were blown away at New Farnley last Saturday by 187 runs, after Lee Goddard hit a devastating 141 in the home side’s mammoth total of 349-4.

When talking about the defeat, Brown said: “I hoped there would be more in the pitch. There was moisture on the surface and I hoped the ball would swing early on.

“But we didn’t bowl well at the top and there were too many poor balls to Lee Goddard, who batted really well.

“We were never with the rate and we lost four wickets for not many runs. The spinners came on and they set good fields and at that point it became about batting points.”

Asked what he wants to see in response from his players this weekend, Brown said: “It is a good opportunity to move on against Townville, though it will be another very hard game against a good side.

“It is a double header this weekend, as we play in the Priestley Cup on Sunday against Pudsey Congs, so that give us two bites at the cherry to put last weekend’s game behind us.

“Pudsey play in the division below us but they’re a good side and that will still be a tough game.

“We had injuries on Saturday to our bowling attack, which didn’t help, but they should be back this weekend so we are very confident.

“We are a young team, so going up against experienced players like Lee Goddard, and an innings like that, is a lesson for us all to learn.

“With the ball, we need to create more chances. Particularly with the new ball, we are a bit placid.

“But as a young side, that kind of game is bound to happen once a season against a much more experienced New Farnley team, so I’d say it’s a one-off.”

But Brown knows Townville pose a major threat of their own, and discussing tomorrow’s opponents in depth, he said: “It’s going to be hard.

“They are a very settled team and they probably have one of the best all-rounders in the league in Jack Hughes, who is in great form.

“I saw them blow Cleckheaton away at the weekend, so it is going to be a difficult game, and the wicket at Townville tends to be a hard one to score runs on.

“You really need to make it count when you get in, as they have a good attack. But as long as we take it deep, I fancy our chances of beating them nine times out of 10.”

Brown would take a tight encounter, and asked which bowler he can rely on in that situation, he said: “Bradley Reeve. Last year in the T20 final he bowled four overs for not many against a very good Hanging Heaton team.

“He’s very accurate, knows what he’s doing, and he can bowl to a field.

“He’s a very clever cricketer and bowler and is always looking for a wicket or to keep it tight, so I would back him nine times out of 10.

“That’s not to say guys like (opening bowlers) Jack Hartley and Yasir Abbas wouldn’t do a good job as well.”