WOODLANDS captain Cieran Garner says title-challenger titan clashes are what the top-flight of the Bradford Premier League are all about.

Garner’s side lead the pack by 21 points, but face a stern test at the weekend when they host reigning champions Pudsey St Lawrence.

The captain said: “We’re very much looking forward to it.

“These are the sort of games you want to play in at the top of the Premier League. We know the strengths they’ve got – they might have lost a couple of players, but they always look to bring good strong youth players through.”

Pudsey, have raced to victory in all but two of their matches, one of which was abandoned due to the weather.

They sit behind Woodlands in second who themselves are yet to lose a game.

Garner – who became first team captain this year having risen through the ranks – said: “Everything’s started off really well. Everybody is contributing which is key. Chris Brice and Kez Ahmed with the ball are being backed up this year by the others.”

Being at the top, some might expect the pressure to begin to tell, but the young skipper is confident Woodlands can keep up their form by focusing game-by-game.

He said: “It’s absolutely that. We’ve just got to keep doing what we do best.

“The pressure has gone off for us really. People outside the club seem surprised at our start.

“But, we’re not shocked in the club, We’re not getting carried away and there’s a hell of a long way to go.”

Elsewhere, Hanging Heaton will hope to build on their impressive 218-3 victory against Wrenthorpe when they host division strugglers Lightcliffe and take of advantage of the top two coming up against each other.

The home side have only lost one game this season with the form o bowlers Thomas Chippendale and Josh Holling proving pivotal so far. Between them, they have taken over a third of Heaton’s 73 claimed wickets this year.

Lightcliffe on the contrary have lost their last four. Despite losing to Heaton themselves, Wrenthorpe posted an admirable 210-9 in that match.

Six of their batting entourage hit multiple boundaries against title-challengers Heaton and they will need to repeat that kind of form when visiting a Littletown in buoyant mood after getting their second win of the season.

Farsley themselves have been finding some form after a dreadful start.

Their run of three consecutive victories has dragged them into fourth, with fellow title contenders Pudsey St Lawrence and Bradford & Bingley put to the sword in recent weeks.