ROYAL Dolphins entered the District League in 2006 and it took them until last year to win their first trophy, the Division IV championship.

This season they have started with four straight wins in their effort to win consecutive crowns.

The club are based at the Royal on Scar Lane, Milnsbridge and most of their players are local.

Originally, they had two teams – one played Saturdays and the other Sundays, but after a few years, they concentrated on the former, having some success in the Works League before transferring to the District.

They finished second-bottom of Division IV in their first season but have certainly improved since!

Dolphins have a new manager in Darren Kelly and club secretary and Royal landlord Nigel Barratt hopes the more professional attitude will reap dividends.

Last week, they didn’t have to be at their best to beat struggling AFC Waterloo, but it took them until late in the game to seal a 4-0 victory. They were 1-0 up at the break and that remained the score until 20 minutes from time, when the first of three late goals went in.

Liam King (2), Luke Haigh and Richard Boustead were the men on target.

The feature of Dolphins’ season so far has been their defensive record, having only conceded three goals in four games.

Despite their 100% record, they have to share top spot with Grange Moor, whose four wins have come by scoring twice in every game – three 2-1 wins and one by a 2-0 margin.

In the reserve divisions, only three clubs have an unblemished record and two of them (the other being Scholes) belong to the same club – Diggle. In fact, it’s been a decent start for the club as a whole as like the other two teams, the firsts have gone through September without a defeat.

Up in Division I, Shepley and Cumberworth both recorded their first wins.

Shepley’s 2-1 success came at the expense of Uppermill, while Cumberworth’s first win was 3-0 over Heywood Irish Centre – a result that could turn out to be six-pointer come the end of the season.

Three sides retained a 100% record in Division II.

Netherton, with goals from Wharam, Kilner and Devlin, beat Scholes 3-2, Lamb Inn defeated KKS Ashbrow 4-2 while Berry Brow saw off Slaithwaite by a 2-1 scoreline.

The Division IV title already looks destined for Shelley.

They drubbed AFC Lindley 10-0 – the second time they have hit double figures already this campaign.