Ignore us at your peril - that's the message newly promoted Esholt sent out to their fellow Bradford League First Division clubs as they caused a major upset with their seven wicket victory at much fancied Pudsey Congs.

The perceived opinion in the league is that Esholt will struggle in the top flight - an opinion reinforced on the opening day of the campaign when they were bowled out for 55 in their heavy defeat at Hanging Heaton.

But they bounced back in spectacular style, restricting Congs to 155 for eight before reaching their winning target with seven balls to spare.

It was Congs second defeat in a row - they were beaten by defending champions Woodlands in their first match - and it is a setback in their quest to offer a serious challenge to the title holders.

For Esholt, though, it is a boost in confidence as they pursue their primary objective to survive in their first season in the top flight. They made a great start to the match, reducing Congs to 43 for five before Andrew Bairstow with 34 and top scorer Babar Butt with 49 guided them to 155 for eight.

Left arm spinner Ben Platt took three for 43 in 15 overs while overseas all-rounder Shahzaib Khan two for 27 in 11 as batting was a struggle on a damp pitch.

Unlike Congs, Esholt batted consistently as they reached their target with seven balls to spare. . Paul Cummins made 40 and his younger brother Mark 23 as they put on 49 for the first wicket before Khan continued the good work with 37 and Gulsheraz Ahmed 30 not out.

Four clubs - Woodlands, Baildon, East Bierley and Bradford & Bingley - have won both their matches with Baildon leading the way after two 18 point wins with Bingley second and Woodlands third. Woodlands, who went through last season unbeaten on the way to their third successive title, gained a comfortable seven wicket win at Manningham Mills after bowling out the home side for 90. 

Surprisingly, overseas pace bowler Safraz Ahmed didn't take a wicket, but his unerring accuracy, conceding a mere 11 runs in ten overs, put pressure on the Mills batsmen. Fellow paceman Richard Spittlehouse took the honours with five for 25 in 11 overs while Pieter Swanepoel took two for 25 in ten before teenage spinner Harry Smallwood mopped up the tail with three for 15 in 4.4 overs.

Opener Scott Richardson then led the way to Woodlands' victory target with 37, ably supported by Scott Frankland (20) and Nicky Rushworth (24 not out).

What a great start Bingley's pace bowler Richard McCarthy has made to the season. After taking eight wickets in his first match - a 142 run win over Bowling Old Lane, the Australian took four for 23 in nine overs as newly promoted Yeadon were shot out for 49.

Fellow paceman Will Briggs also took four for 14  in seven overs while Chris Thompson took the last two wickets. Bingley struggled in reply, taking 27 overs and losing five wickets in reaching their modest target, but they will be delighted with their start to the season after struggling to avoid relegation for part of the 2007 campaign.

Yeadon were the top side in Division Two last year, but, after losing their first two matches of the season, they will need to raise their game to avoid being embroiled in a relegation battle.

Baildon condemned Pudsey St Lawrence to their second defeat of the season after their batting flopped at Jenny Lane. The home side also found batting far from easy, but new signing Ahsan Butt from Mills held the innings together with a top score of 78 as Baildon made 178. Chris Marsden (3-42) and Gareth Clough (3-44) each took three wickets.

At 72 for four, with free scoring James Smith and new signing Michael Raikes from Harrogate at the wicket, St Lawerence were very much in the game, but they lost their last six wickets for 33 runs as they were bowled out for 105. Slow left armer Mushtaq Ahmed was Baildon's most successful bowler with four for 27 while Craig Hitchenor and Butt each took two wickets.

Bierley and Hanging Heaton are regarded as two probable challengers to Woodlands and Bierley came out on top when the two sides met in a low scoring game at Bennett Lane. Bierley struggled to 128 all out with Nick Summerscales taking five for 28, but it was enough to beat the home side by 22 runs, new signing Chris Elstub taking four for 24 to continue his fine start for his new club.

Brighouse avoided relegation by a mere two points last season and look set for another difficult campaign this time. Their second defeat of the new season - by 113 runs at home to Bowling Old Lane - has left them bottom of the table. Old Lane made 218 - the biggest score in Division One - with Riaz Khan making 81 and Mansha Khan 51. Khan then completed a fine all-round performance with three for 13 and Mohammed Hanif took three for 15 as Brighouse were bowled out for 105.

Saltaire recovered from their opening day defeat against Manningham Mills to gain an impressive four wicket win at Cleckheaton. The win had all the more merit because Saltaire were without new signing Tim Linley while overseas player Rahul Kanwat is still waiting for a visa from India. Ian Nicholson top scored with 53 and Craig Thornton made 32 as Cleckheaton were bowled out for 160. Awais Ijaz then led Saltaire to victory with a top score of 50.

The two relegated clubs, Farsley and Idle continued their winning start to the campaign in Division Two and will be confident of being in the promition mix at the end of the season. However, there was a tense finish at Farsley where the home side scraped home by one wicket while Idle won by three wickets at Bankfoot with new signing, wicketkeeper John Barton guiding them home with 45 not out.

Gomersal, who just missed out last season also have a promotion look about them. Following an emphatic win at Windhill on the opening day of the season, they beat Keighley at Lawkholme Lane by six wickets. They restricted Keighley to 154 for eight before cruising to their winning target with 15 overs to spare thanks to a fine innings from overseas all-rounder, the former Great Horton player Kashif Naveed.