The formbook certainly held good in Division One of the Bradford Scratch League.

Baildon edged the title by a point from Northcliffe, and league secretary Colin Taylor said: "They had by far the strongest squads, but the title could well have been decided by how little someone like Simon Bell figured for Northcliffe.

"I bet he only played for them twice because of county and other commitments, and that was a major loss.

"But even on the last day things could have gone Northcliffe's way.

"They beat already-relegated Keighley

8-0 at home while Baildon were winning

6-2 at Bradford Moor, where I understand Moor's Neil Harker-Bell three-putted the last from no distance at all to lose by one down.

"A half wouldn't have made any difference, but if he had won it would have made all the difference."

Bingley St Ives were also relegated and they will be replaced by Calverley and Hollins Hall, who, like Baildon and Northcliffe, were separated by a point.

Taylor added: "Calverley and Hollins Hall have done really well as they were promoted together last season from Division Three, and 2004 will be the first time both have played in the top section."

Ironically, neither team won their final fixture, Calverley losing 6-2 at Rawdon and Hollins Hall drawing 4-4 at Woodhall Hills.

Taylor said: "Ian Martin runs the team at Hollins Hall and is very keen.

"Working under him there is Craig Hustwit, who plays for Calverley.

"Ian is convinced that Craig will be playing for Hollins Hall next season, but Calverley are equally convinced, as I understand it, that Craig will still be playing for them!"

Ghyll and Woodhall Hills have been demoted from Division Two, and Skipton and Bradford will be replacing them.

Taylor said: "Ghyll haven't really recovered from losing Andy Riley halfway through last season and Howard Tyrer (to Italy and Keighley respectively), and Woodhall Hills have struggled all season."

The Manor and Headley have taken the drop from Division Three, but what has surprised Taylor most this campaign has been Division Four champions Bracken Ghyll.

"I wouldn't have predicted that they would win the division - they are relative newcomers," he admitted.

"Riddlesden going up with them doesn't surprise me as they only came down last season, but I fancied Clayton and Fulneck more than Bracken Ghyll."