Drighlington, who are two divisions lower, beat Asa Briggs A by seven chalks in the HOWARTH CUP semi-finals after starting with a 25-point handicap advantage.

Captain Mark Smith produced a great 21-11 win to ensure a place in the final against Shipley Club, who beat Asa Briggs B by 40 points.

Asa began with a 35-point advantage and made a perfect start as Jason Watters’ excellent 21-12 victory extended their cushion.

Shipley gained 11 chalks from the first four jacks, helped by a superb 21-9 from Tony Spivey, and started to turn the screw as John Sample carded a 21-9 to put them in front by nine points after eight jacks. Big wins from Mick Kane (21-8) and John Preston (21-3) ensured a flattering scoreline for Shipley.

Howarth Cup semi-finals: Asa Briggs A (20) 202, Drighlington (45) 209; Shipley Club (Scr) 210, Asa Briggs B (35) 161.

Birkenshaw beat Peel by ten chalks in the SUPPLEMENTARY CUP semi-finals.

Birkenshaw, who play in the Haigh League, started with a ten-point handicap advantage against their Bartle League opponents and maintained this throughout, with Laurie Taylor (21-11) the pick of their six winners.

In the final they will play Greengates, who beat Wibsey by a single chalk in the other last-four tie.

Supplementary Cup semi-finals: Peel (45) 218, Birkenshaw (55) 228; Wibsey (35) 213, Greengates (20) 214.

The semi-finals of the Yorkshire Cup/Henry Taylor Cup/Eric Hutchinson Memorial Trophy and Derrick Radley Trophy take place on Saturday, July 31.

Pudsey are the one remaining Bradford League team in the YORKSHIRE CUP and will take on last year’s finalists Cononley at Greenroyd, with the winners to face Thongsbridge or Lower Hopton in the final.

Spen Victoria B and Clayton are in opposite semi-finals of the HENRY TAYLOR CUP, with Clayton looking favourites to go all the way.

Shipley Club, last year’s winners of the ERIC HUTCHINSON MEMORIAL TROPHY, are into the last four again and will play Ossett Flying Horse at Elland CA&BC.

Meanwhile, Cleckheaton Moorend will play Outwood at Linthwaite C&BC in the DERRICK RADLEY TROPHY.

Yorkshire Cup semi-finals: Thongsbrigde v Lower Hopton, at Sandal; Pudsey BC v Cononley. at Greenroyd.

Henry Taylor Cup semi-finals: Spen Victoria B v Moldgreen Cons, at Outwood; Lockwood Cons v Clayton Victoria, at Hanging Heaton.

Eric Hutchinson Memorial Trophy semi-finals: Ossett Flying Horse v Shipley Club, at Elland CA&BC; Hanging Heaton v Skipton Craven, at Hove Edge.

Derrick Radley Trophy semi-finals: Cleckheaton Moorend v Outwood, at Linthwaite C&BC; Skelmanthorpe Central v Cowcliffe Libs A, at Thongsbrigde.

The first qualifying round of the £5,000 BRIGHOUSE CLASSIC takes place tomorrow evening (6.30), with a quality field setting out to try and reach the final on Saturday, September 18.

Graeme Wilson opens up against Michael Sweeney (Dewsbury), while Lee Lawton takes on Pudsey’s Ian Shaw.

Full draw: Gary Wallis (Sheffield) v Anthony Thompson (Wirral), Adam Mellor (Eccleshill) v Chris Heyes (Bury), Martin Hodson (Chadderton) v Paul Bailey (Sheffield), Ian Shaw (Pudsey) v Lee Lawton (Failsworth), Mike Sweeney (Dewsbury) v Graeme Wilson (Audenshaw), Paul Heap (Saddleworth) v Paul Gill (Clayton), Liam Griffin (Pudsey) v Mark Foster (Worsley), Paul Leah (Failsworth) v Matt Gilmore (Wirral).

Saturday sees the opening night of the COORS PUDSEY CLASSIC. The draw in full is: Andy Whittaker (Meersbrook) v Paul Leah (Ashton-under-Lyne), Brian Richards (Littlemoor) v Robert Hitchen (Lower Hopton), Danny Metcalfe (Shipley Club) v Danny Sillitoe (Dearne Sports), Darren Smith (Stretton Anglesey) v Harry Seehra (Spen Victoria), Mike Flitcroft (Ashton-under-Lyne) v David Scott (Lower Hopton), Chris Hill (Meersbrook) v Andy Milson (Stretton Anglesey), Clay Flattley (Castlefields) v Darren Hennessy (Elland C&BC), Nigel Cranston (Crossgates) v Paul Heap (Saddleworth).

The YORKSHIRE INTER-DISTRICT ROUND-ROBIN TOURNAMENT takes place on Sunday in the Halifax District.

The winner of each group moves forward to the semi-finals, with the final to be played at Sowerby Bridge West End.

Group A (at Luddendenfoot, 11am): West Riding, East Coast. Group B (at Halifax No 1, 10am): Skipton, Huddersfield, Wakefield. Group C (at Halifax No 2, 10am): Halifax, Bradford, Castleford. Group D (at Sowerby T&BC – 10am): Harrogate, Airedale & Wharfedale, Leeds. First semi-final (at Kingston BC): Winner Group B v Winner Group C; second semi-final (at Sowerby Bridge Hillcrest): Winner Group A v Winner Group D.