THEY may only have won two matches since make the big switch from the arrow Central League, but new boys Cumberworth are nevertheless enjoying the challenge of playing in the Drakes League’s Cedar Court Conference.

They were certainly one of the hotshot clubs in the neighbouring Premier section over the last dozen years, having lifted the Allsop Cup three times in the Noughties, while securing no fewer than five League Championship titles, with a hat trick from 2002 to 2004, and their last success in 2010.

But now the pleasantly-appointed club down Cumberworth Lane are starting again from scratch as far as the power-ratio is concerned.

Ashley Littlewood, who signed from neighbours Shepley, is the only newcomer to Cumberworth and the only member of the side with any knowledge of Drakes League grounds and players – although, he too, is a familiar face having started his career as a junior at Cumberworth where he once helped them win the Walker Cup, as well as playing in the Joe Lumb Cup competition alongside the present first team captain Chris Kilner.

“I think everyone in the club is delighted we have joined the Drakes League, and we are all certainly enjoying the experience,” admitted Kilner.

“It’s certainly been a good challenge, but we’ve already learned one thing, that there is no hiding place in the this league, and if you don’t perform you lose, simple as that!

“I know we’ve only won a couple of games so far, but we’ve not really been hammered by anybody, and we have put ourselves in winnable positions in one or two other matches but not quite been able to get there.

“Certainly we should have beaten Paddock first up after bowling them out for 96, but then we tumbled to 82 all out when we replied, and then we should really have beaten Linthwaite, only to finish up tied on 248 apiece.

“Everyone here has upped their game to compete and I believe we are getting better each week, but it’s definitely going to take time to adjust and get to know the different grounds we are playing on, and the players we are coming up against.

“I think that’s what happened to Cawthorne last season, and you can now see how they are benefiting from that experience in their second season, and now look a good bet for promotion.

“As a captain I’ve found those extra five overs makes all the difference in the Drakes League after being used to playing 45. It changes your tactical approach, and instead of thinking we need to push on at around 30 overs, you now have the chance to stabilise the innings a bit longer before starting to take chances.

“We’ve been quite lucky with the weather having only had two matches rained off, and now we’ve played every other side in our division, I certainly don’t feel we’ve anyone to fear.”

The skipper himself is still a more-than-useful player, and is already the leading scorer with around 300 runs, and definitely had some pedigree in his younger days, having played for Yorkshire’s Under 17s at Durham, as well as playing in the Huddersfield League’s Joe Lumb Cup team, where he played alongside Golcar skipper Steve Whitwam and Ashley Littlewood.

“Getting Ash back here was a bonus for us, because as well as being a good reliable spinner who I can turn to, not only get us a wicket, but also to keep the runs down – he bowled 20 overs for 56 runs and two wickets against League-leaders Cawthorne – but he’s also a steadying influence with the bat.

“He scored over 1,000 runs last season in Shepley’s second team (with a highest score of 159, ave 47.91) to finish third in the overall list of averages and he won the Twenty/20 Shield game for us against Lascelles Hall.

“We reached the last two overs still needing 26 to win, and Ash then smacked their overseas all-rounder Arron Lilley for three successive sixes at the start of the penultimate over, and that took the game away from them.

“As far as the wickets go, we’ve shared them round so far, between my brother Martin, Richard Parkes and James Haigh.”

“Like probably everyone else though, we are a better team on a dry wicket, and we’re just hoping we get some before the end of the season.

“Apart from Ash, we’ve got the same team we had last season and we decided we were going to stick with those players this year and see who we go, although we haven’t dismissed the possibility of looking at a pro perhaps in future years.

“We have a bar here now and are generating a little bit of money, so who knows? But if we were to look at a professional, whether it be an overseas player or someone locally, it would probably have to be a batsman, and someone who could help coach and run our juniors, of which we have plenty at the club.”