YORKSHIRE Ladies rose to the challenge when they played South Staffordshire, who were leaders in their first-round group, as they beat them by a stunning 115 points.

The home team, playing at Meltham, won by 75 points and the away team triumphed by 40 points at Heath Hayes, putting Yorkshire joint-top of the table on points and with a plus aggregate of 183 points, well ahead of their nearest rivals.

Making welcome returns to the home team, Sally Turner (Mirfield C&B) won 21-5, Marie Lockwood (New Mill) 21-1 and, to crown the day playing at No 12, Suzy Ladbrooke (Lockwood Cons) raced to a 21-0 victory.

The away team were also off to a good start with a 21-3 from Dawn Bray (Ossett Flying Horse) and 21-4 by Katie Turner (Cranmore). Yorkshire play Dudley & District in their final game of the first round on Sunday, July 27.

Home – Yorkshire 226, South Staffordshire 151 (Yorkshire names first): Suzanne Howarth (New Mill) 8, Samantha Murray 21; Carron McGrath (Linthwaite Hall) 21, Julie Dace 12; Karen Gant (Meltham) 21, Helen Skidmore 15; Linda Gledhill (New Mill) 12, Aimee Alcock 21; Julie Best (Marsh Utd.) 21, Rona Jenkinson 19; Karen Whitefoot (Marsh Utd.) 21, Alison Baird 17; Marie Lockwood (New Mill) 21, Sylvia Ward 1; Sally Turner (Mirfield C & B) 21, Lynn Anderson 5; Lynn Carter (Cowcliffe Libs) 17, Misha Gittings 21; Julie Mallinson (Lockwood Cons) 21, Pauline Jones 10; Jacqui Roper (Meltham) 21, Jackie Smith 11; Suzy Ladfbrooke (Lockwood Cons.) 21, Heather Rowe 0.

Away – South Staffordshire 182, Yorkshire 222: Helen Gilroy (Rufford Park) 21, Jordan Picken 14; Cathy Rushton (Gargrave ) 17, Nicky Spittle 21; Dawn Bray (Ossett Flying Horse ) 21, Cheryl Fulton-Robb 3; Joanne Ellis (Skipton Craven) 18, Jan Tongue 21; Amanda Hagen (Ossett Flying Horse) 14, Hannah Matthews 21; Maureen Chambers (Glasshoughton) 21, Chris Hayward 12; Alicia Ormsby (Meltham) 16, Julie Alderman 21; Rachel Quirk (Crossgates) 21, Chris Baines 15; Katie Turner (Cranmore) 21, Becki Peach 4; Andrea Buckley (New Mill) 21, Hayley Scott 13; Karen Hill (Ossett Flying Horse) 21, Becky Perry 16; Sharon Gadd (West Park)10, Sally Evans 21.

* SHEFFIELD'S Chris Brown, who had earlier won the Metro Sports & Social Club Classic at Stretford, went on to take his second title of the day in the Cleckheaton Classic by defeating Tommy Johnstone (Poynton) 21-18.

Cleckheaton Classic results – First round: Andrew Sykes (Mirfield) 10, David Hayward (Cannock) 21; Clay Flattley (St Georges BC) 16, Andy Buckley (Chadderton) 21; Ashley Tattersley (Huddersfield) 19, Tommy Johnstone (Poynton) 21; Gareth Nicholson (Halifax) 21, Ryan Clark (Sheffield) 18; Ashley Daykin (Netherton) 21, Paul Dudley (Sale) 5; Glynn Cookson (Winsford) 9, Chris Brown (Sheffield) 21; Simon Coupe (Preston) 21, Dave Watters (Preston) 16; Callum Wraight (Shrewsbury) 21, Ian Booth (Halifax) 17. Second round: Hayward 20, Buckley 21; Johnstone 21, Nicholson 14; Daykin 18, Brown 21; Coupe 21, Wraight 12. Semi-finals: Buckley 8, Johnstone 21; Brown 21, Coupe 20. Final: Johnstone 18, Brown 21.

Qualifying rounds, Friday, June 27 – First round: Carl Upton (Barnsley) 17, Greg Smith (Allens Green) 21; Roger Crowther (Longwood) 5, Richard Stockdale (Eccleshill) 21; Nick White (Thongsbridge) 9, Joe Cranston (Crossgates) 21; Elliot McGuinness (West Brom) 13, Simon Coupe (Preston) 21; Mark Bramall (Huddersfield) 14, Ryan Prosser (West Brom) 21; Keiron O’Prey (Huddersfield) 11, Ian Booth (Halifax) 21; Mark Hughes (Crossgates) 15, Graeme Wilson (Audenshaw) 21; Richard Jackson (Thongsbridge) 19, Glen Pratt (Littlemoor) 21. Second round: Smith 21, Stockdale 11; Cranston 10, Coupe 21; Prosser 14, Booth 21; Wilson 21, Pratt 10. Qualifying round: Smith 13, Coupe 21 (Coupe drew 13 for finals); Booth 21, Wilson 11 (Booth drew 16).

Saturday, June 28 – First round: Ben Gloag (Glossop) 18, Michael McDonnell (Lloyds Hotel) 21; Conor Chamberlain (Swadlincote) 21, Jeremy Muff (Holmes Chapel) 10; Matt Kelly Wally (Swadlincote) 21, Neil Simpson (Eccleshill) 16; Paul Dudley (Sale) w.o. Darren Burge (Stockport) scr; Daniel Petcher (Swadlincote) 21, Andrew Hodgson (Pudsey) 5; Dave Gwilliam (Glossop) 19, John McDonnell (Lloyds Hotel) 21; Kevan Shaw (Westhoughton) 21, Paul Chamberlain (Swadlincote) 11; Clay Flattley (St Georges BC) 21, Mike Leach (Preston) 20. Second round: M McDonnell 21, Chamberlain 15; Kelly Wally 14, Dudley 21; Petcher 21, J McDonnell 19; Shaw 16, Flattley 21. Qualifying round: M McDonnell 11, Dudley 21 (Dudley drew ten); Petcher 17, Flattley 21 (Flattley drew three).

* HOSTS Clayton A defeated struggling Whitkirk 26-4 to notch only their second Bradford Saturday League victory of the season in the Naylor Premier section.

Whitkirk managed two winners but lost the aggregate by 72 chalks, with Steve Wilkinson 21-4, Paul Kaye 21-5, Graham Raey 21-8 and David Scott 21-8 starring for Clayton.

Mike Lambert produced a great 21-8 win for Wyke A at champions Pudsey A but it was in vain as Chris Hatton 21-6 and Gary Wike 21-7 were the pick of eight home winners, ensuring a 23-7 success.

Leaders Crossgates left Brighouse Sports A with an 18-12 triumph thanks to great victories by Nigel Cranston 21-5, Peter Wilcox 21-6 and Kieran Smith 21-9, although Mark Regan showed some resistance for the hosts with a 21-7 effort.

Jason Barker starred on his debut for Asa Briggs A with a 21-6 in their 21-9 home win over Ladyhill A – but the result could have been much worse were it not for four away wins, including two 21-20s.

Runaway Godwin division leaders Pudsey Littlemoor A carded an impressive 24-6 win at Horsforth Woodside, with Lee Wider’s 21-8 the pick of the eight victors.

Pudsey B and Cranmore stand second and third respectively and both managed impressive wins. Pudsey left with a 19-11 success at Drighlington A, despite Trevor Worsman’s 21-9 for the home side, and Cranmore were helped by Irene Turner 21-4, Kevin Siddle 21-8 and Robert King 21-9 as they saw off Brighouse Sports B 25-5.

Rufford A and Greengates A shared five winners each but Rufford took the game 19-11, with Steve Ainley, Martyn Benson and David Greenwood all carding 21-7 victories, assisted by Guy Barrie 21-8.

Andy Durkin’s 21-4 for Guiseley A helped them win the aggregate at Eccleshill B by a single point but Eccleshill managed six winners as they shared the points in a 15-15 draw.

* GRAEME Wilson (Audenshaw) and James Hanson (Pudsey) were week two qualifiers in the Spen Masters, sponsored by P&I Hopkins Butchers.

Wilson qualified with ease with wins over Mark Bramall (Huddersfield) 21-13, Josh Mordue (Brighouse Sports) 21-12 and Ian Booth (Halifax), while Hanson came through only two games after a first-round no-show from Paul Bailey (Sheffield).

Hanson defeated Robert Dunford (Dewsbury) 21-19 and Gareth Gwilliam (Manchester) 21-9 to make it through to finals night.

Week three of qualifying continues on Saturday, with recently-crowned Shipley Classic winner Mark Hughes (Crossgates) in action.

Week two qualifying – First round: Nigel Cranston (Crossgates) 20, Josh Mordue (Brighouse Sports) 21; Graeme Wilson (Audenshaw) 21, Mark Bramall (Huddersfield) 13; Liam Griffin (Pudsey) 7, Ian Booth (Halifax) 21; Tony Riley (Brighouse Sports) 17, David Gwilliam (Manchester) 21; James Hanson (Pudsey) w.o. Paul Bailey (Sheffield); Nick White (Sheffield) 15, Robert Dunford (Dewsbury) 21; Gareth Gwilliam (Manchester) 21, Joe Cranston (Crossgates) 12; Danny Sillitoe (Eddlington) 6, Chris Mordue (Pudsey) 21. Second round: Mordue 12, Wilson 21; Booth 21, Gwilliam 8; Hanson 21, Dunford 19; Gwilliam 21, Mordue 15. Third round: Wilson 21, Booth 11 (Wilson drew seven for finals night); Hanson 21, Gwilliam 9 (Hanson drew 11).

Week three draw: Glenn Pratt (Pudsey Littlemoor) v Dan Jones (North Wales), Andy Milson (Sheffield) v Cliff Johnson (Cannock), Richard Jackson (Sheffield) v Kevan Shaw (Bolton), David Watters (Preston) v Gordon Bradford (Halifax), John Bailey (North Wales) v Clay Flattley (Shropshire), Chris Brown (Lower Hopton) v Mark Hughes (Crossgates), Thomas Hanson (Pudsey) v Darren Smith (Sheffield), Dave McDermott (Wirral) v Jack Dyson (Huddersfield).

* BRADFORD Four-A-Side Knockout, sponsored by Kolorco (Printers) – First round: Harold Park 118, Shipley Club A 85; Clayton B 109, Shipley Club B 117; Wyke B 116, Greengates 102; Shipley Club C 108, Asa Briggs C 109; Asa Briggs A 114, Wibsey B 104; Drighlington 107, Clayton A 105; Asa Briggs D 98, Wyke A 109; Hightown 118, Shipley Club D 114.

The second round takes place on Friday, July 25. Draw – At Drighlington: Harold Park v Shipley Club B, Wyke B v Asa Briggs C; at Greengates: Asa Briggs A v Drighlington, Wyke A v Hightown; at Asa Briggs: Salts v Birkenshaw A, Wibsey A v Tyersal; at Wibsey: Brackenhill A v Asa Briggs B, Birkenshaw B v Brackenhill B.

* THE Howarth Cup and Supplementary Cup continue a week on Friday with preliminary-round games.

There are two matches in the Howarth and one in the Supplementary to get the draws down down to eight teams each for finals day on Sunday, July 27.

Howarth Cup (Friday, July 18): Brackenhill (50) v Eccleshill A (0) at Baildon, Wibsey B (50) v Asa Briggs A (10) at Birkenshaw. Quarter-finals (Sunday, July 27): Brackenhill (50) or Eccleshill A (0) v Wibsey B (50) or Asa Briggs A (10), Harold Park (40) v Clayton A (0), Wibsey A (30) v Shipley Club A (10), Clayton B (30) v Birkenshaw (50).

Supplementary Cup (Friday, July 18): Greengates (20) v Salts (60) at Asa Briggs. Quarter-finals (Sunday, July 27): Greengates (20) or Salts (60) v Tyersal A (50), Shipley Club B (40) v Wyke (30), Horton (60) v Hove Edge (30), Bradford Moor (55) v Asa Briggs B (40).

The finals of both competitions will take place at Spen Victoria at about 3.30pm but venues for the quarter-finals and semi-finals are still to be confirmed.

* BRADFORD open their Hickson Trophy campaign with a match against Halifax at Lund Park on Friday. Games are being contested in the Skipton area.

Team: Rod Bastow (Eccleshill), Paul Hillam (Eccleshill), Graham Oliver (Clayton), Tony Walton (Crowghyll), Gerald Bromley (Peel), Alan Peel (Clayton), Tommy Harney (Clayton), David Hodgson (Crowghyll), Bill Hutchinson (Crowghyll), Mick Lambert (Wyke), Ian Johnson (Clayton), Tony Riley (Clayton). Reserves: David Bottomley (Crowghyll), David Burns (Peel), Derek Relton (Eccleshill), Steve Alred (Crowghyll).

* THE Yorkshire Cup, Henry Taylor Cup, Eric Hutchinson Memorial Trophy and Derrick Radley Trophy reach the quarter-final stage on Saturday, July 19.

Draws – Yorkshire Cup: Lower Hopton WMC v Pudsey BC at Roundhay Park, Eccleshill v Clayton Victoria at Pontefract BC, Kirkheaton Con v Thongsbridge at Linthwaite Hall, Elland CA & BC v Netherton Cons at Guiseley.

Henry Taylor: Meltham v Broad Oak at Lindley BC, Roundhay Park v Mirfield Old Bank at Clayton Victoria, Crosland Moor v Cononley at Rufford Park, Hemsworth Welfare v Longwood at Slazengers.

Eric Hutchinson: Meanwood Park v Dukes Park at Hemsworth Welfare, Cranmore v Whitkirk at Spen Victoria (Top Green), Greengates v Ladyhill Park at Eccleshill, Oxenhope v Hove Edge at Ossett C&AC.

Derrick Radley: Slazengers v Cleckheaton Sports at Tadcaster BC, Overthorpe v Tadcaster BC at The Hollies, Ossett C&AC v Almondbury BC at Halifax BC, Lindley BC v Kirkheaton Con at Shepley.

* CLUBS should be aware that the Hospital Handicap will now be played at Hove Edge on Sunday, July 20. Entries are still being taken and anyone interested should contact Norman Lickley on 01943-884323.

* SHIPLEY Club are running a one-day competition on Sunday, August 10 which is limited to 32 entries. The entry fee is £10, with total prize money of £400. Anyone interested should contact John Preston on 07460-851570.

The club are also taking entries for their indoor league, which runs from October to March. Anyone interested in getting a team together should again contact Preston on the same number.