Cross Roads Bowling Club suffered the joys and pain of the crown green game during a see-saw weekend for the club.
They are used to celebrating and on Friday night the club's a team, who are the reigning Yorkshire Parks' Brotherton Cup Champions, made progress in this year's competition when they beat Yorkshire Cup holders Eccelshill A at Baildon with a 16-point victory. Richard Hargreaves, Les Foster and Mick Walsh clocked up good wins.
On Saturday their A team, hot favourites to win the Valley Cup, were sensationally beaten by their own B team at Bradshaw by a slender two-point margin. Mother and son Pam and Scott Wilkins saw off two stars of the game, who wish to remain anonymous. Demoted Garry Foster also weighed in to prove a point. Other qualifiers include Steeton A and Sutton B. The next round is on June 13.
On Sunday the majority of the Cross Roads team were in action again, together with David Cadwallader of Sutton, representing Hebden Royd in the Yorkshire Parks Inter-City event at Lister Park. The team were holders of the title, but were soon in trouble against the hosts, and eventual winners, Bradford, as they lost 8-4. A scrappy win against Barkston Ash, the group's outsiders did the team little good. In the final game the locals were crushed 9-3 despite odd individual efforts with only Richard Hargreaves remaining unbeaten on the day.
The Valley Federation team was also in action in the District Championships and entertained Bolton Belles in contrasting games at Cross Hills and at the Hollywood Bowl, Bolton.
The home team suffered only one defeat and were indebted to good wins by Graham Perry, Tony Akers, Steve wood, Tony Finn and Barry Utley. The next match is against Rochdale on June 22.
This weekend's main attraction takes place tonight (Friday) with preliminary rounds in the Hills Supplies Handicap taking place at Gargrave and the Craven Classic at Craven at the same time.
The Hills Supplies final is on June 22 with the classic featuring four preliminary rounds during June before the final on July 11. Several top players from away will join locals in the event.
The first round of the Clarkson cup takes place on Tuesday. The draw is: Steeton A v Broughton B (at Lund Park), Rolls A v Cross Hills B (Whins Wood), Whinfield A v Silsden A (Oakworth), Settle B v Cross Hills B (Addingham), Devon C v Sutton B (Foulridge), Keighley C v Oakworth (Silsden BC), Cononley A v Lund A (Steeton), Sutton C v Haworth (Cross Hills), Silsden PF B v Silsden B (Haworth), Sutton a v Keighley B (Whinfield). Next round, June 23.
David Cadwallader (Sutton) took advantage of the absence of several top stars to qualify for the Yorkshire Merit finals at Crosland Moor for the second time. He defeated Peter Clarke (Devon) 21-11 at Cross Hills.
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