EDDIE HALL of Lund Park sprung a surprise in the Keighley Merit competition when he beat favourite Richard Hargreaves 21-20 in an exciting final.

Eddie, the brother of Keighley Rugby League star Steve Hall, recently returned to the game and has shown a spectacular improvement in form. His vociferous approach to the game, backed up by his devoted followers, left 'Orville' shell-shocked. Losing semi-finalists were Mick Bastow and Les Hutchinson.

Qualifiers in the John Ryecroft Trophy include local hope Les Foster and the legendary Brian Duncan of Preston. Meanwhile at Devon David Scott of Silsden reached the Classic Final with team mate Graeme Hickey of Elland.

Cross Roads advanced again in the Yorkshire cup with a rout of Cleckheaton C, but Whins Wood lost narrowly to Hebden Royd Park. Oakworth lost in the Henry Taylor Cup 'derby' with Skipton Devon and were all at sea at Ilkley Bowling Club. Only good wins from Nigel Graham, Ian Hardcastle and Tony Bugeja lit up the gloom.

Oakworth's Roy Littlewood and Barbara Rowan have qualified for the Halifax Mixed Pairs finals on July 9 after winning at Ripponden.

The Skipton Inter-District team begin their campaign tonight against holders Halifax. The organisers have called on old faithful players with the home leg at Craven while the away stars travel to Thrum Hall, Halifax.

Lund Park have reached the final of Skipton's Lambert Cup and will now meet Sutton A who knocked out Gargrave with ease. Lund defeated holders Devon A at Addingham with good performances from Andy Johnson and Steven Walsh. The final is on June 19.

Preliminary rounds in the Clarkson Cup saw wins for Keighley A and Oakworth who were victorious on their first ever visit to Foulridge to play Devon B. Alan Kyle and Liz Bland were well to the fore. The two clubs now meet in the first round at Craven on June 19.

The Veterans Inter District team continues with a match against Leeds today.

The Valley Cup continues on Saturday together with games in the Supplementary Cup.

Valley Cup - Bradshaw A v Whins A (at Denholme), Cross Roads A v Craven a (Silsden PF),Crow Wood Park v Cross Hills B (Haworth), Whinfield v Lund C (Sutton), Devon v Silsden PF A (Steeton), Steeton B v Denholme A (Highfield), Silsden PF B v Craven B (Cross Hills), Highfield (bye).

Supplementary Cup - Denholme B v Lund B (Cross Roads), Haworth v Steeton A (Lund no1), Sutton v Cullingworth (Lund No2), Cross Roads B v Whins B (Cullingworth), Oakworth A v Lund D (Bradshaw), Lund A v Oakworth B (Whinfield), Bradshaw and Cross Hills A (bye).

The County Parks season continues on Sunday when Yorkshire meet Calderdale. The home team should have a good chance at Brittania, Pudsey, but the away squad will have a difficult task on a tricky green at Mytholmroyd WMC. Chris Slater gets a recall to the team and faces reigning Yorkshire Champion Graeme Wilson.

Cross Roads beat Fishwick Ramblers of Preston in the first round of the British Team Championship, with a good home leg ensuring success.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.