Bradford closing in on top two (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford closing in on top two

5:10pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Sport By Richard Bakes

Bradford No 2’s latest victory leaves them still on course for promotion from Division Three of the Yorkshire Inter-District League with two games to go.

A 4-2 win against second-placed Wakefield No 2 at Manningham Ward means Bradford are four points behind the top two.

But they have the advantage of a game in hand, which they are playing against Selby on Sunday, March 17, again at Manningham Ward.

Captain Hanif Rafiq gave the side the perfect start by winning the opening two frames against B Timlin 72-41 and 76-13, which included a break of 50.

Boover Singh lost out on the colours 67-30 in the first frame to Chris Hall but recovered well to take their next 74-40.

Tanveer Mohammed then put the home side 4-1 up with a convincing 69-13 win but his opponent, Wakefield captain Lionel Payne, took the last frame in style 70-2 and that may yet prove crucial in the final placings at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, newly-crowned Division One champions Bradford No 1 will bring the curtain down on their successful campaign with a trip to face Sheffield No 1, who currently sit at the bottom of the table and are fighting to stay up.

Bradford have won seven and drawn two of their nine games and will be looking to finish unbeaten, with Wayne Cooper in particular looking to finish with a 100 per cent record for the side.

The Bradford billiards team travel to play Huddersfield No 1 at New Mill on Saturday.

* In the Bradford Snooker Championships, nine-time champion Cooper (Laisterdyke Cricket Club) eased into the semi-finals with a 4-0 victory over Richard Hagerty (Calverley Cons), which included a break of 99.

John Wellham (Allerton Cons) beat 2004 champion Howard Mawson (Eccleshill Victoria Cons) 4-1.

* The Bradford Billiards Championships are expected to be played at Cue Gardens again, with qualifiers provisionally pencilled in for Saturday, April 13. Further details will be available in due course.