Joe Cranston’s 21-8 was the pick of eight home winners for defending Bradford Saturday League champions Crossgates and helped them to a 24-6 victory over Eccleshill B in the Naylor Premier Division.

It looks as though both Eccleshill teams could struggle this season as Eccleshill A also went down 22-8 at home to Pudsey Littlemoor A, who carded an impressive eight away winners with Craig Hebbard’s 21-6 the pick of them.

Shipley Club A emerged 20-10 home winners against Brighouse Sports A as Matthew Jacques (21-5) and Danny Carter (21-7) hit top form. Dave Southwell rolled back the years for Brighouse, replying with a great 21-9.

Andy Southwell’s 21-6 made the difference as Asa Briggs A defeated Ladyhill A 17-13, while Clayton edged out Pudsey A by the same score despite sharing the winners.

Pudsey B were in devastating form in the Godwin second-tier section, carding the perfect 30-0 scoreline at home to Greengates A which included big wins from Andy Hodgson (21-5), David Hilliam (21-6) and Neil Nicholson (21-6).

Cranmore saw off Rufford A 21-9, with Darren Cookson (21-4) and Joanne Speight (21-9) starring as Rufford lost for the first time this season.

Guiseley A thumped Hove Edge A 25-5, carding eight home winners including Mick Hall (21-6), David Leather (21-7) and Gary Whelan (21-9).

Brighouse Sports B and Pudsey Littlemoor B look set to find it tough this season after both teams lost at home.

Neil Tordoff’s 21-7 helped Wyke A to a 20-10 success at Brighouse, while Shaun Kelly (21-2) and Phil Cooper (21-9) ensured a narrow 16-14 win for Whitkirk at Littlemoor.

* Yorkshire open their British Parks County Championship campaign against North Derbyshire on Sunday, with the home match to be played at Pudsey BC.

Home team: Paul Hillam (Eccleshill), Gary Wike (Pudsey), Tony Green (Whitkirk), Danny Fountain (Brighouse Sports), Bob Whitfield (Brighouse Sports), Simon Walder (Spen Victoria), Josh Mordue (Brighouse Sports), Stuart King (Asa Briggs), Tony Riley (Brighouse Sports), Mark Regan (Brighouse Sports), Harry Seehra (Spen Victoria), James Hanson (Pudsey).

Away team (venue to be confirmed): Ian Shaw (Pudsey), Craig Hebbard (Pudsey Littlemoor), Andy Gilroy (Eccleshill), Mick Smith (Pudsey), Paul Bowes (Pudsey), Paul Rooks (Eccleshill), Danny Towning (Pudsey Littlemoor), David Hilliam (Pudsey), Neil Mylan (Eccleshill), Richard Stockdale (Eccleshill), Andrew Tate (Clayton), Ian Jacques (Shipley Club).

* Yorkshire’s ladies follow up their narrow British Championship defeat against Warwickshire by facing Staffordshire on Sunday, knowing that nothing less than a convincing win is required to stay in contention.

The home match is to be played at Linthwaite Hall BC in Huddersfield, with the away match at Meir Sports and Social Club in Stoke-on-Trent.

Staffordshire, who won the competition in 2007, also lost their opening match, to Coventry & District. Yorkshire were runners-up last year.

Home team: Katy Atkinson (Marsh Utd), Linda Gledhill (New Mill), Karen Gant (Meltham), Ann Hinchliffe (Marsh Utd), Karen Whitefoot (Marsh Utd), Linda Drury (New Mill), Alicia Ormsby (Meltham), Lynn Carter (Cowcliffe Libs), Diane Radcliffe (Lockwood Cons), Suzanne Howarth (New Mill), Julie Mallinson (Outlane), Suzi Ladbroke (Lockwood Cons).

Away team: Dawn Bray (Ossett Flying Horse), Lisa Rice (Harold Club), Amanda Hagen (Ossett Flying Horse), Karen Hill (Hanging Heaton), Debbie Davies (Pudsey BC), Louise Whiteley (Hove Edge), Laura Middleton (New Mill), Alexis Lunn-Gadd (Morton House), Sharon Gadd (West Park), Andrea Buckley (New Mill), Jacqui Roper (Meltham).

* Four teams of Yorkshire youngsters travel to the Grange in Warrington on Saturday to try and retain the British Crown Green Ladies Junior County Championship title they have held for the past two years.

A total of 16 teams from across the country will compete in four sections, with the winners playing off in semi-finals and finals.

Team Keith (Hatzer): Kieran Bannister (Heptonstall), Josh Mordue (Brighouse Sports), Rhys Beaumont (Broad Oak), Melissa Hoyle (Broad Oak), Chloe Ghaffer (Newsome WMC), Harry Lumb (Kirkheaton Con).

Team Sheila (Whiteley): Robbie Ellis (Skipton Craven), Robert Wainwright (Rothwell BC), Fern Beaumont (Broad Oak), Charlotte Holmes (Garforth Rec), Shane Wainwright (Rothwell BC), Danny Teale (Kirkheaton Cons).

Team Alan (Stephenson): Matthew Jacques (Shipley BC), Chris Jacques (Shipley BC), Jack Humpleby (Shepley), Chloe Hirst (Queensbury), Marc Armitage (Pudsey Littlemoor), Chloe Lay (Earlsheaton).

Team Bridget (Lunn): Sophie Brown (Almondbury BC), Matthew Bell (Borough, Scarborough), Mason Hill (Brockholes), Kieran Ormsby (Staincliffe), Jamie Winterburn (Garforth Rec), Lucy Hemmingway (Brockholes).

* Bradford take on Huddersfield in the Yorkshire Veterans Inter-District League on Friday, with the home leg to be played at Peel Park and the away team travelling to Broad Oak BC.

Home team: Graham Oliver (Clayton), Rod Bastow (Eccleshill), Mick Bastow (Eccleshill), Malcolm Iles (Asa Briggs), David Bottomley (Crowghyll), Ian Matthews (Eccleshill), Paul Hillam (Eccleshill), Nino Esposito (Ladyhill). Reserves: Bob Baines (Pudsey Littlemoor), John Ramsey (Ladyhill).

Away team: Tony Riley (Clayton), Dennis Thorpe (Crowghyll), Bill Hutchinson (Crowghyll), David Burns (Peel), Lawrie Walsh (Peel), Gerald Bromley (Peel), David Hodgson (Crowghyll), Mick Lambert (Wyke). Reserves: David Moore (Clayton), Derek Carroll (Crowghyll).

* Four-times winner Gary Ellis (Whitefield) was one of the two players to win through from the opening John Smith’s Classic qualifying round at Cleckheaton Sports Club.

Chris Brown (Sheffield) will join him in the finals on Saturday, July 6, with Ellis drawing number 14 and Brown taking number eight.

First round: Chris Hill (Bradfield) 17, Wayne Ditcfield (Chorley) 21; Keiron O’Prey (Huddersfield) 11, Chris Brown (Sheffield) 21; Lee Heaton (Preston) 8, Nigel Cranston (Crossgates) 21; Ryan Bancroft (Grapes) 21, Robbie Fitzpatrick (Liverpool) 12; Gary Siswick (Griffin) 8, Rob Wilshire (Netherton) 21; Matthew Jones (Hyde) 15, Gary Ellis (Whitefield) 21; Tommy Johnstone (Poynton) 10, Joe Cranston (Crossgates) 21; Mark Regan (Brighouse) 17, Ian Booth (Lower Hopton) 21. Second round: Ditcfield 19, Brown 21; Cranston 21, Bancroft 15; Wilshire 17, Ellis 21; Cranston 15, Booth 21. Qualifying round: Brown 21, Cranston 14; Ellis 21, Booth 19.

Draw for May 18 qualifying round: Matt Gillies (Oldham) v Malcolm Wensley (Clitheroe), Andrew Spragg (Chesterfield) v Keiron Smith (Crossgates), Dave McDermott (Merseyside) v Chris Mordue (Pudsey), John Spinks (Alverthorpe) v Daniel Jones (N Wales), Chris MacDonald (Congleton) v Jane Bowler (N Wales), Tony Riley (Brighouse) v Mark Bramall (Huddersfield), David Poole (Sandal) v Dean Ferris (Leek), Jack Hargreaves (Hyde) v Kevin Nixon (Doncaster).

* The 2013 Shipley Classic, sponsored by HH Birch & Son Ltd and Yorkshire Building Society, gets under way on Friday, with 2012 champion Liam Griffin (Pudsey) in first-round action against Adam Briggs (Baildon).

Draw for week one qualifying (practice from 6pm for 6.30pm start): David White (Thorner) v Mick Bastow (Skipton Craven), Allan Thompson (Mirfield Old Bank) v Joel Abdy (Rastrick), Chris Mordue (Pudsey) v Dave Fisher (Morton House), Roger Crowther (Longwood) v Steve Griffiths (Denholme), Liam Griffin (Pudsey) v Adam Briggs (Baildon), Glen Pratt (Pudsey Littlemoor) v Josh Mordue (Brighouse Sports), Howard Broadbent (Thorner) v Tony Riley (Brighouse Sports), Mick Hall (Guiseley) v Stuart King (Asa Briggs).

* Saturday is the closing date for entries to the Bradford Mixed Pairs Merit, which takes place at Lister Park on Tuesday, May 28. Anyone interested should contact Norman Lickley on 01943-884323.

* Entries are still being taken for the Yorkshire County Crown Green Merit, with local rounds being played on Saturday, May 25. Anyone interested should contact Maurice Carter on 01274-664705.