BRADSHAW skipper Nick Lester believes the experience in his team will prove invaluable this season.

The Rigbys outfit travel to Farnworth Social Circle tomorrow as last season's top two go head-to-head looking to climb nearer to early league leaders Egerton.

Both champions Social Circle and Bradshaw have lost two games in the first month of the season.

But Lester is satisfied with the start considering they have had a tough opening burst of games against Egerton, Westhoughton and both Farnworth sides.

And he says the presence of summer arrival Stuart Hornby, from Egerton, alongside old hands like Steve Foster, Phil Dickinson and Jonny Kerrigan can help in their bid to challenge again at the top.

After beating Farnworth last Saturday, Hornby hit 65 and Kerrigan an unbeaten 97 in a National Knockout triumph over Fulwood and Broughton.

Lester said: "Stuart has been a revelation for me since he has come in.

"It is not just his displays; his presence on the field and in the dressing room is great for us as a team.

"For me as skipper, he is a big help and also with the younger players.

"We had two youngsters playing in our National Knockout win last weekend and he stood around them in the field offering advice.

"When you also include Jonny Kerrigan, Phil Dickinson and Steve Foster – who seems to get better with age – then you have good experience.

"It has been a tough start as far as opponents go but we have done okay.

"We didn't turn up at Westhoughton but against Egerton the difference was Lancashire youngster Haseeb Hameed, who I have watched since he was nine years old and is a class act. He was superb as deputy pro that day.

"We will have played four of the big boys after this weekend's trip to Social Circle so hopefully we can put a run together in the next few games."

Bradshaw had two good games against last year's eventual champions in 2014 and Lester is confident of another classic.

And after pro Kamran Younis took seven wickets against Farnworth, the skipper hopes for more of the same.

He added: "Kamran has been a little disappointing with the bat so far but he took wickets last weekend and that is just what we needed. I have no doubt he will come good.

"The games against Social Circle were decent last year and will be close again.

"They have lost Josh Bohannon but, likewise, we do not have Bradley Yates any more.

"I think they will still be up there again this year and hopefully we will too."

Fixtures

Saturday: Greenmount v Astley Bridge, Farnworth SC v Bradshaw, Farnworth v Eagley, Westhoughton v Egerton, Kearsley v Little Lever, Horwich v Tonge, Heaton v Walkden.

Sunday: Hamer Cup – Kearsley v Farnworth, Heaton v Farnworth SC, Bradshaw v Eagley, Egerton v Astley Bridge, Little Lever v Horwich, Tonge v Greenmount.