Simon Mason was one boundary away from equalling a JCT600 Bradford League record yesterday as leaders Woodlands underlined their championship credentials with a crushing 149-run win over fellow early pacesetters Pudsey St Lawrence.

Mason, now in his second season at Woodlands after joining from Yorkshire League club York, struck off- spinner Steve Watts for five sixes in a row – all straight drives - in the 35th over before playing the last ball for a single and so was denied the chance of equalling the league record set by Chris Gott for St Lawrence in 1991.

“Obviously, I wanted to hit the last ball for six, but he bowled it a bit flatter and I had to settle for a single,” said Mason.

The 163-run second-wicket partnership between Mason and opener Scott Richardson was the foundation of Woodlands' formidable 269-7, but he was disappointed that neither of them went on to make 100, Mason was out for 84, which included no fewer than nine sixes, while Richardson was dismissed five short of his century, both bowled by young pace bowler Oliver Ashford.

Ashford, who joined St Lawrence from East Bierley, took another wicket, while off-spinner Chris Marsden picked up four victims as Woodlands lost wickets in pursuit of quick runs but still achieved the day’s highest total.

“Scott Richardson played a great knock as well,” said Mason.

“It was a shame that one of us could not push on to score 100. You set out to get your big scores, but I came down the wicket to Oliver Ashford and managed to york myself.

“It has been a brilliant start for us but we are only three games into the season and there are a few teams that will be up there.”

St Lawrence needed a good start in pursuit of their daunting target but didn’t get one.

Skipper Mark Robertshaw was out to the first ball of the innings, caught and bowled by Sarfraz Ahmed, while David Hester was out in Sarfraz’s second over, lbw without offering a shot.

They also lost James Smith, Adam Waite and Gareth Clough cheaply and, at 47-5 the game was as good as over.

Top-scorer Marsden (47) struck some defiant blows in a sixth-wicket stand of 46 with Watts, but left-arm spinner Chris Brice ripped through the lower order to finish with 5-31 as the visitors were bowled out for 120, five runs short of a batting point.

These are early days, but with three wins out of three Woodlands have the look of champions about them.

St Lawrence began the day in second place, only one point behind them, but were outplayed by the reigning champions, whose maximum 20 points means they are ten points clear of their nearest challengers Manningham Mills.

Visitors’ wicket-keeper Steve Thompson said: “Woodlands are going to be the side to beat.

"They have got two very experienced bowlers in Sarfraz Ahmed and Pieter Swanepoel, whereas we have a young attack, and with youth comes inconsistency and, while we have got a good batting line-up, we are inexperienced down the order.

“Unfortunately, Gareth Clough couldn’t bowl because of an injured shoulder. If anyone could have got something out of that pitch, he could.”