PAUL Houldsworth believes the Great Harwood machine is beginning to click into gear as they look to mount a serious Senior League title challenge this season.

The club suffered an uncertain start to the season as they had to rely for several weeks on sub-professionals following the non-appearance of their original paid man Sohail Tanvir.

That, combined with some indifferent early results and key players forced to miss games, it looked like Harwood's wait to clinch their first Senior League crown since 1900 would go on for another year.

But in recent weeks, the Cliffe Park side have shown glimpses of their true form.

And with the arrival of West Indian fast bowler Jermaine Lawson, the Harwood skipper is adamant his side will be a force to be reckoned with come the business end of the season.

He said: "I don't think we've got going yet. With having to rely on sub-pros at the start of the season and when Jermaine finally got here it's not stopped raining so it's been tough. It's amazing that we are still in touch in the league.

"The top teams are able to put the same players out every week but we've not been able to do that.

"I was a bit worried about the size of our first team squad at the start of the season but the players that have come in have proved they can do a job.

"We don't carry players. They're in the first team because they are good players and we proved that in the vital win at Ribblesdale on Saturday.

"Nobody will want to play us and if we can get our players back, and carry on improving, then we'll be hard to stop."

The unseasonal weather has seriously curtailed the impact paceman Lawson has had in his first couple of games for Harwood but Houldsworth is confident that when the sun shines, so will Lawson.

"Jermaine's pulling his hair out at the minute because he's steaming in and the wickets are so wet that the ball is dying off the pitch," he added.

"But he's proved in the short time he's been with us that he's a 100 per center. He steams in over and over and he wants to bowl all the time.

"Once the sun comes out and the pitches improve, he's going to run through teams because he'll be too quick for them."

Former Australian Test star Peter Sleep showed his quality with 69 and a couple of big wickets and Houldsworth is delighted the veteran all-rounder has finally found his form.

He added: "Peter's started coming to in the last few weeks and started to show his all-round class.

"He's very vocal and he's great to have around because he's been there and done it."