Traditional slow starters Ripon are off to a flyer, Blackburn’s side dismissing Carlton Towers for 41 on Saturday en route to a seven wicket victory.

Ripon then progressed in the Edward Readman Trophy on Sunday, defeating Bubwith by seven wickets despite their 45 run head start.

Tomorrow Ripon host another unbeaten side in Fenner (1.30pm start) but Blackburn admits he is starting to fancy Ripon’s chances.

“I can’t see why we shouldn’t be going for it,” said Blackburn.

“We’ve just played a side who came down from Division One and we’ve bowled them out for 41 so I don’t see why we shouldn’t be looking for promotion.

“It should be a good year though I am always a bit apprehensive to say that!

“I’m very pleased and everyone has got a real good atmosphere down at the club. Hopefully we can carry on doing well and we’ve still got a couple of lads coming back but they’ll have to wait their chance.

“Matt Morton is coming back from Australia and Richard Hooks is still injured but I know he’s quite keen to play.”

Ripon are clearly in fine fettle but tomorrow’s visitors Fenner have also began with two victories since their promotion from Division Three last year.

Blackburn is full of respect but feels Ripon have enough in the locker to secure a victory.

“They have won two out of two and so it should be a good game Saturday,” he said.

“I know they’ve got an ex-Yorkshire League player and I think he’s their captain so he’ll be a good player but we should be all right.

“They are a bit of an unknown quantity. Last year was their first year in the league and they won Division Three and I’m not looking forward to the reverse fixture as I’ve looked on Google Earth and it’s the other side of Hull.

“We’ll see, they’ll be a decent team but I’m sure we’ll be OK.”

Jan Dirk Van Dyke was Ripon’s star at the weekend, his brilliant 6-11 off 16 overs skittling out Carlton Towers for 41.

Paul Nel’s unbeaten 17 then coasted Ripon home at 43-3.

Lower league Bubwith then began with a 45 run head start on Sunday but another great spell from Van Dyke restricted Bubwith to 160.

Van Dyke then cracked 79 with the bat which together with Pip Warters’ 39 steered Ripon home at 161-3.

Blackburn was delighted with Van Dyke and is thrilled with Ripon’s bowling form, Van Dyke’s efforts following Andy Cook’s opening day spell of 7-46.

“Dirk had a good weekend!” said Blackburn.

“It’s brilliant and we can’t get enough of it.

“Andrew Cook also bowled really well and he was quite unlucky not to take four or five wickets while we also had Tom Leeming playing for us and he bowled really well with two wickets.