UPBEAT and on fire Nelson are the Lancashire League’s form team after seven straight wins in all competitions – but no-one at Seedhill is getting too carried away with on-field events as they look to make up for lost time.

Tom Lord’s men were fancied to make a strong challenge in the league this year but got off to the worst start as they lost their first five games.

But a run of three league wins on the spin and two each in the Worsley Cup and Twenty20 make Nelson the form team – and they also have a tasty Worsley Cup semi-final at Church to look forward to.

That last-four clash sees Nelson pro Luke Woodcock return to the club where he spent the past two seasons – but he says there is a lot of cricket to be played before that showdown on July 3.

“We can’t think about that game yet,” he said. “I am really looking forward to going up there and we play them the week before in the league at Seedhill – I am sure there will be a bit of banter going about via text messages but that adds to the occasion.”

Woodcock says the league is wide open with Nelson’s run leaving them just two wins off the top.

“No-one will run away with it this year,” said the New Zealand World Cup star. “There are a whole batch of teams who will fight it out – and Nelson is one of those teams.

“We have to keep working hard, we can’t take anything for granted – but all the lads are working hard.

“Even in the losing run the lads were not that far away and they stayed upbeat and continued to work on the game. They kept on picking up bonus points and that kept us in touch and now we are in the mix.

“The league is tight and that makes for good cricket for spectators and players.

“We are on a good run over the past couple of weeks with the three league wins and those in the Worsley Cup and Twenty20 – and we want more of the same.”