Bradford No 1 returned to winning ways after their recent draw at Sheffield No 3 with a 4-2 victory against Castleford No 2.

The Yorkshire Inter District League defending champions didn’t have things their own way at Undercliffe Cricket Club but came through a tough encounter to remain top of the league.

Damian Wilks started with a break of 40 to take the first frame 58-13 but Castleford captain Pete Raby took the second frame 58-30.

Bradford captain Kevin Firth won both frames against youngster Joe Roberts – a 55 break clinching the first while Firth stole the colours in the second.

Mark Slater was unusually out of sorts during his match, with opponent Mike Hodgson pulling a frame back for Castleford 58-48 after Slater had gone in off on the final black. But Slater took a see-saw second 72-56 to clinch victory for the hosts.

In the final stages of the Yorkshire Snooker Handicap at Cue Gardens, Bradford duo Gareth Green and Lee Atkinson both fell at the quarter-final stage.

Green lost 3-1 to Leeds’ Thomas Wealthy, while Atkinson lost 3-2 to defending champion Daniel Womersley despite being 2-1 in front.

The final was won by York youngster Ashley Hugill, who beat Womersley 4-2.

Tonight sees the start of the Heys Trophy, with preliminary round matches of East Bowling Unity ‘B’ v Laisterdyke CC and Buttershaw Lane WMC v Lifeline Leisure (8pm starts).

In the Bradford Snooker Championships, one of the ties of the round saw Windhill Cons player Lewis Walsh beat Shipley Social Club’s John Wellham 4-3, while Peter Hamilton of Calverley Cons knocked out Steve Horsfall (Eccleshill Victoria Cons) 4-2.

Defending Bradford Pairs champions Wayne Cooper and Lee Atkinson (Laisterdyke CC) came through their preliminary round tie 3-0 against Windhill Cons’ M Buchan and I Laycock, with Cooper making a break of 107 in the first frame. They now take on Richard Hagerty and Roy Beckford in the first round proper.

The deadline for matches in both the singles and pairs is December 3. For this round only winning players should contact Richard Bakes (07940-651850 or e-mail bradfordsnooker@hotmail.com) with results.