Yorkshire followed up their 458-403 win over Wales with an even more emphatic 466-358 victory over Lancashire in the British Crown Green County Championship.
In the home match at Spen Victoria, Yorkshire managed eight winners – including 21-9 efforts by Jack Dyson (Netherton Cons) and Chris Mordue (Pudsey) – to take the aggregate by 35 chalks against a spirited Lancashire team.
Yorkshire were outstanding throughout the away match at The Red Lion, Stockton Heath, sealing the aggregate by an impressive 73 chalks with eight winners – including Phil Dowgill (Clayton) with a superb 21-6 on his Yorkshire ABA debut.
Home – Yorkshire 224, Lancashire 189 (Bradford scores): Graeme Wilson 18-21, Robert Hitchen 21-14, Peter Jagger 9-21, Craig Gant 21-13, John Spinks 11-21, Wayne Moseley 21-20, Dave Fox 21-19, Martin Griffiths 21-11, Chris Mordue 21-9, Ashley Tattersley 18-21, Jack Dyson 21-9, Ashley Daykin 21-10.
Away – Lancashire 169, Yorkshire 242 (Bradford scores): Scott Fisher 15-21, Thomas Hanson 21-16, Dave Fisher 21-13, Kieren Smith 21-16, James Hanson 21-9, Ian Booth 21-7, Mark Hughes 21-12, Phil Dowgill 21-6, Richard Stockdale 20-21, Nicky White 21-6, Liam Griffin 20-21, James Davison 19-21.
Next up for Yorkshire is a match against Warwick & Worcester on Sunday, July 6.
* Callum Wraight (Shropshire) and Steven Gilroy (Crossgates) were the week three qualifiers in the Shipley Classic, sponsored by HH Birch & Son Ltd.
Wraight qualified with ease after beating Richard Stockdale (Eccleshill) 21-11, Graham Perry (Skipton Devon) 21-11 and Joel Abdy (Rastrick) 21-15 to set up a mouth-watering quarter-final with defending champion Stuart King (Asa Briggs).
Gilroy, on the other hand, had to come through 21-20 wins against Chris Mordue (Pudsey) – in which he produced a wonder shot to win it – and Matty Simpson (Gargrave), who is in only his second season of bowling.
In his third game Gilroy then saw off Tony Riley (Brighouse Sports) 21-15 to make it through to finals night.
The final round of qualifying takes place on Friday evening, with 2011 winner Mark Regan in action.
Week three scores – First round: Nigel Roper (Pudsey Littlemoor) 21, Jack Summers (Asa Briggs) 19; Josh Mordue (Brighouse Sports) 10, Joel Abdy (Rastrick) 21; Richard Stockdale (Eccleshill) 11, Callum Wraight (Shropshire) 21; Graham Perry (Skipton Devon) 21, Liam Gleave (Hightown) 16; Matty Simpson (Gargrave) 21, Roger Crowther (Longwood) 19; Steven Gilroy (Crossgates) 21, Chris Mordue (Pudsey) 19; Tony Riley (Brighouse Sports) 21, Paul Jacques (Pudsey Littlemoor) 19; Michael Briggs (Hightown) 21, Joe Stockdale (Guiseley) 19. Second round: Roper 7, Abdy 21; Wraight 21, Perry 11; Simpson 20, Gilroy 21; Riley 21, Briggs 13. Third round: Abdy 15, Wraight 21 (Wraight draws number two for finals night); Gilroy 21, Riley 15 (Gilroy draws three).
Week four qualifying draw: Warren Wilson (Chapel Allerton) v Mally Fowler (Ladyhill), Ian Shaw (Pudsey) v Kez Smith (Crossgates), Mark Regan (Brighouse Sports) v Gary Foulkes (South Leeds Cons), Phil Holroyd (Sowerby Bridge) v Nigel Hughes (North Wales), Keith Hall (Eccleshill) v Ged Smedley (Tonge), Wayne Jevons (North Wales) v Paul Burke (Chapel Allerton), Scott Haynes (Ladyhill) v Frank Cullen (Rastrick), Mark Hughes (Crossgates) v Paul Bowes (Pudsey).
* The qualifying round of the Howarth Cup takes place on Friday, June 27.
This year teams will consist of just eight players, with matches starting at 6.45pm.
With 19 entries, Brackenhill are given the only bye. The qualifying-round losers move into the Supplementary Cup.
Qualifying round: Harold Park (40) v Tyersal (50), at Wibsey; Asa Briggs B (40) v Shipley Club A (10), at Harold Park; Asa Briggs A (10) v Greengates (20), at Shipley Club; Clayton B (30) v Hove Edge (30), at Asa Briggs; Horton (60) v Eccleshill (Scr), at Birkenshaw; Wibsey A (30) v Shipley Club B (40), at Eccleshill; Wyke (30) v Wibsey B (50), at Clayton; Salts (60) v Clayton A (Scr), at Greengates; Bradford Moor (55) v Birkenshaw (50), at Wyke. Bye: Brackenhill (50).
* Bradford were edged out 29-27 in their latest Yorkshire Veterans Inter-District League match against leaders Huddersfield.
In the home match at Peel Park, Bradford could only muster eight winners as Nino Esposito (Ladyhill, 21-7) and Paul Hillam (Eccleshill, 21-11) ensured they took the aggregate by nine chalks for a 16-12 success.
But Bradford could only manager three winners in the away match at Milnsbridge BC and, despite a great 21-6 effort from Tony Walton (Crowghyll), they lost the aggregate by 12 chalks and the contest 17-11.
Home – Bradford 142 (16), Huddersfield 133 (12) (Bradford scores): Graham Oliver (Clayton) 19-21, Mick Lambert (Wyke) 15-21, Derek Relton (Eccleshill) 21-17, David Bottomley (Crowghyll) 10-21, Steve Alred (Crowghyll) 14-21, Bob Baines (Pudsey Littlemoor) 21-14, Nino Esposito (Ladyhill) 21-7, Paul Hillam (Eccleshill) 21-11.
Away – Huddersfield 146 (17), Bradford 134 (11): David Burns (Peel) 17-21, Dennis Thorpe (Crowghyll) 15-21, Derek Carroll (Crowghyll) 13-21, Tony Riley (Clayton) 21-20, Tony Walton (Crowghyll) 21-6, Tom Harney (Clayton) 15-21, Alan Peel (Clayton) 11-21, Gerald Bromley (Peel) 21-15.
Next up for Bradford is a match against Castleford on Friday, June 13, with the home match again at Peel Park and the away leg at Pontefract BC.
Home team: Graham Oliver (Clayton), Mick Lambert (Wyke), Rod Bastow (Eccleshill), Steve Alred (Crowghyll), Nino Esposito (Ladyhill), Paul Hillam (Eccleshill), Ian Johnson (Clayton), Ian Matthews (Eccleshill). Reserve: Derek Relton (Eccleshill).
Away team: David Burns (Peel), Tony Riley (Clayton), Alan Peel (Clayton), Gerald Bromley (Peel), Tony Walton (Crowghyll), Tom Harney (Clayton), Dennis Thorpe (Crowghyll), David Hodgson (Crowghyll). Reserve: Derek Carroll (Crowghyll).
* Dawn Bray achieved the dream of most crown green bowlers when she won the Yorkshire Merit at a rain-soaked Bilton Dragon BC in Harrogate.
The Ossett Flying Horse bowler just got the better of Yorkshire team-mate and current All England champion and Champion of Champions winner Helen Gilroy (Rufford Park BC) 21-20 in her opening match.
It was also close against Angela Spilsbury (Low Harrogate BC) before Bray took the match 21-17, followed by another 21-20 outcome in the quarter-finals against Andrea Buckley (New Mill BC) – a twice winner of this competition and current Yorkshire away team captain.
Yet another Yorkshire colleague provided the semi-final opposition and Bray saw off Cathy Rushton (Gargrave) 21-19.
To complete a tough run, Bray took on Yorkshire home team captain and past County Merit winner Linda Gledhill (New Mill) in the final and needed all her spirit to overcome an 18-14 deficit to win 21-19.
Bray and six other qualifiers now go forward to represent Yorkshire at the All England Merit in Wolverhampton next month, while she will also represent Yorkshire at the Champion of Champions Merit in Blackpool in September.
* Saturday is the closing date for entries to the Bradford Wednesday Merit, which takes place at Peel Park on Wednesday, June 18.
Entries should be made to Norman Lickley (01943-884323) – as well as for the Bradford Merit, which takes place on Sunday at Spen Victoria.
* The Yorkshire Cup, Henry Taylor Cup, Eric Hutchinson Memorial Trophy and Derrick Radley Cup reach the second-round stage on Saturday, with many local teams in action.
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