BRADFORD Union come to Skipton on Sunday for its match against Teeside and the home club might just be wondering how Paul Pethybridge has stayed out of the team.

At last Sunday's Bradford Union championship at Shipley Beckfoot, Pethybridge again showed his current form when he returned a three over par total of 143, three behind the winner, Robert Hallas of Northcliffe, and one behind three players who shared second place.

Pethybridge has returned the lowest ever score at Skipton, but the record is unofficial as wet weather meant preferred lies on fairways were operational during the medal in early spring.

Even so, on his own course, and with three of the Bradford team missing (two, Darryl Berry and Richard Wheatley, have reached the final qualifying stage of the opening and one, Simon Bell, is representing England Juniors in, of all places, Iceland), Skipton were hoping that Pethybridge might have proved to be a canny pick for the big match.

At least he has the consolation of being one of the 16 qualifiers for the Bradford Union match play tournament.

He now faces Andrew Town from Northcliffe at Cleckheaton.

Skipton's Invitation Day proved profitable for Andy McDonald, who partnered A Baker to return a winning 44 points.

Also in the prizes were: Martin Cooper and Jamie Mountain, 43 pts; Adrian Robertson and Barry Stewart, 43 pts; Steve Aldersley and Peter Rhodes, 41 pts; Mick Hirst and M Collins, 41 pts.

Robertson is a runaway leader of any "money earning" list as he has now picked up major prizes four times in three weeks.

He won the Captain's Day first prize, picked up more money on the Captain's Trip, finished second in the Invitation Day and won first prize in the big charity event of the summer, Corinne's Charity Day, in aid of Cancer Research.

He teamed up with Pethybridge, Richard Addyman and the frequent raider from Settle, Alister Black, for 123 points in the best three of four scores per hole to count.

Skipton's scratch team have an outside chance of promotion from Division Three of the Bradford League - but would need a good win over Hollins Hall at Skipton tonight (Friday).

The latest round of matches tightened things up behind the division's runaway leaders, Calverley, as Skipton gained a 4-4 draw away to Riddlesden.

All four matches went to the last hole and when the dust settled Jeremy Harding emerged a one up winner, Richard Addyman and Pethybridge had secured a half but Robertson had lost one down.

Continued on Page 30.