Baildon A and Highdale B were both on the double trail on Bradford League cup final night at Hermits but had contrasting fortunes as once again the handicap final produced an exciting finish.

Before the two finals began players and officials held a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for Hermits member Peter Worger, who died suddenly prior to the final.

Worger had been a member of Hermits for many years and had also audited the Bradford League accounts since 2001.

In the Tony Theobould Trophy final, Division Four champions Baildon A faced section rivals Hermits F, who had a narrow three-point start on handicap.

In the first half of the final, fortunes fluctuated as Roger Swithenbank and Stewart Varley recorded wins for Hermits over Peter Warner. Rod Willey also beat Varley and his son Chris overcame both Norman Swift and Swithenbank for Baildon, who led by 11 points at this stage.

Swift then defeated Warner by 22 points to put Hermits 11 in front but the Willey duo took the next two sets by 19 points and, with one set left, Baildon were eight in front.

Swithenbank had won a last-set decider earlier in the competition and it was his task once again for Hermits against Warner.

He won the first two games 11-8, 11-8 and was on course for victory but Warner steadied himself and took the third game, also 11-8, to leave Baildon needing seven points in the last game to complete the double.

Swithenbank looked home and dry when he led 9-2 but Warner won the next three points and at 9-5 it was anybody’s match. But Swithenbank proved himself once again by taking the next two points to give Hermits victory by a single point.

Highdale B were also on the double trail for the second season running and they overcame Dewsbury Sedbergh 5-1 in an entertaining Burton Cup final.

Richard Whiteley and Peter Morgan won two each for Highdale, with Mark Land adding one, while Dave Hepponstall played superbly for Sedbergh in beating Land and losing in five games to Morgan.