BRADSHAW’S bid for success is off to a winning start, with new captain Brett Ernst admitting: “Anything less than silverware is selling ourselves short.”

The Rigbys club are two from two to start 2018, beating Westhoughton in the Peter Stafford Trophy last weekend and Kearsley in Saturday’s opening Premiership fixture.

Bradshaw are overdue, having last won the league in 1992 and the Hamer Cup in 1999, which is partly where Ernst comes in.

A new recruit from Edgworth, the Australian batsman aims to help them take the next step from second last year.

“We’re out to win things,” he said after hitting 96 in Saturday’s six-wicket home win chasing 212.

“That’s our intentions, and everybody at the club knows it.

“To start with two wins is great. Things are heading in the right direction, but it can all come crashing down next week.

“The club has fantastic people, fantastic facilities. It also has a brilliant junior section. But there was an edge missing. And that’s why I’ve come in.

“I guess I’ve come in to kick the hornet’s nest and make sure the Bradshaw you play is not one of old. It plays hard and fair.”

From speaking to Ernst, it is clear Bradshaw have everything at their disposal to achieve that goal.

Only last week, for example, Farnworth skipper Simon Booth described incoming Pakistani professional Muhammad Saad as potentially the league’s best pro.

Saad should debut a week on Saturday, with Sri Lankan Ashen Silva from Great Harwood deputising for the last two weekends and South African Ernest Kemm facing Atherton this Saturday.

“Muhammad will be important to us, and we can’t wait to get him here,” continued Ernst. “But games aren’t won on paper.

“You can have the best pro, the best opening bowler, the best keeper or spinner. It doesn’t matter. It’s actions and delivery.

“We know we have a decent side that can take us to the last few weeks of the season.

“We had a few players missing on Saturday – Jack Shovelton and Tom Liversedge, both walk-in players.

“But, like I said, it’s about actions and delivery. So far we’ve managed to deliver, and we’ve got plenty of improvement.”

The odd sticky patch aside, Bradshaw dominated Saturday’s clash, bowling Kearsley out for 210 after winning the toss and comfortably completing the chase having wobbled at 31-3.

Leg-spinner Jordan Mason claimed 5-42, while Ernst and Silva, who added a classy unbeaten 85, shared 163 for the fourth wicket to fashion the recovery.

“I bottled it by holing out on 96!” laughed Ernst.

“I skied one trying to hit over the ring when we needed 15 or 16 off six or seven overs. The pro finished it by going bang, bang, bang and played beautifully.

“Kearsley are a good side. I don’t think they did a lot wrong.”

Ernst hit 53 in last weekend’s Stafford Trophy victory over Westhoughton, making it a successful start to his Bradshaw career.

“Runs are a settler,” he added. “But it’s wins that are most settling. I’d much rather take two first ballers and win.”