THE Wharfedale snooker team are in second last place in Division A of the Yorkshire Inter-District League and relegation is now probable.

After a promising start to this year's campaign the team has had a run of disappointing results and with only one match left a good win is vital. Even then much will depend on how fellow strugglers Huddersfield, who are one place above, get on in their final game.

Wharfedale played Huddersfield recently and the spoils were shared at three frames each.

Richard Brooke, having an excellent season, won both his frames and Andy Blamire secured the third but Phil Nicholson lost both his.

In the match prior to this Wharfedale faced league leaders Sheffield One away and were well beaten by five frames to one. Richard Brooke was the only point winner.

Two of the Wharfedale billiards team have reached the semi-finals of the Yorkshire Billiards Championship. Steve Crosland had a scare in his quarter-final. He was up against Matthew Peaker from Huddersfield, who at 17 is a very promising player for the future.

After the early exchanges Peaker led by 40 points but Crosland, with breaks of 71 and 74, built up a lead of over 100. Peaker then hit top gear and with a succession of useful breaks in the 30s and 40s built up a lead of his own.

Crosland had few chances during this period and had to watch his young opponent monopolise the table. With 20 minutes to go Crosland was 73 points behind. Finally a good chance presented itself and a break of 73 levelled the scores. Another break of 44 secured victory and Crosland breathed a sigh of relief winning 568-524.

Pride of place, however, goes to Ronnie Haigh. In the round of the last 16 Haigh was drawn against reigning champion Richard Lodge, from Bradford. He got into his stride early in the game and scored consistently from the word go.

Haigh's top break was 64 and this was backed up by many useful contributions which kept his score mounting. Lodge was getting more and more frustrated.

The run of the balls did favour Haigh, it usually does favour one player or the other, and when Lodge did get some chances he was unable to capitalise. In the end Haigh was a worthy winner by over 200 points at 544-292.