DESPITE great wins from Clayton's Steve Wilkinson (21-6) and Paul Gill (21-10), it was Mirfield Old Bank who progressed with a 221-191 success as the bowls season got underway with the qualifying round of the West Riding Cup.

Chloe Hirst made her Clayton debut after a move from Queensbury, and showed promising signs, despite losing 21-10.

There were three all-Bradford League clashes, with Pudsey A defeating Brighouse B 245-144, with Nigel Briggs (21-14) the only winner for the latter. Brighouse A had a comfortable win over Pudsey B, carding ten winners in a 238-154 success, with Tony Riley 21-7 the pick of the winners. Showing some resistance for Pudsey B were David Hilliam (21-9) and debutant Kevin Arundale (21-19) with wins over Ian Johnson and Mark McGorlick respectively.

Eccleshill edged home 228-216 against Shipley Club despite managing only five winners. Both teams had key players missing but Paul Arthurs (21-10), James Davison (21-11) and Andy Gilroy (21-13) made the difference for Eccleshill. David Jacques was the best for Shipley with a 21-14 winning card.

The losers of the qualifying round move into the Pilling Cup, with the first round of each competition due to be played on Friday evening.

The stand-out tie in the West Riding Cup sees Brighouse Sports A take on Mirfield Old Bank A at Spen Victoria, while big guns Pudsey A and Crossgates have a bye.

Clayton will be many people’s favourites to win the Pilling Cup, but they receive a bye along with other contenders Hanging Heaton.

Scores from Qualifying Round: Brighouse Sports B 144, Pudsey A 245; Morton House 248, Littlemoor B 161; Lower Hopton 236, Cleckheaton Moorend 133; Mirfield Old Bank A 221, Clayton 191; Overthorpe Sports 136, Harold Club 251; Brighouse Sports A 238, Pudsey B 154; Ossett Flying Horse 237, Cleckheaton Sports A 184; Hanging Heaton lost to Crossgates; Spen Victoria B 182, Hightown Club 224; Eccleshill 228, Shipley Club 216; Rastrick 167, Littlemoor A 238; Spen Victoria A 240, Mirfield Old Bank B 163; Cleckheaton Sports B – bye.

Draw for first round of West Riding Cup (matches to be played on Friday, April 3) – Cleckheaton Sports B v Lower Hopton at Hightown Club (6.30pm start), Littlemoor A v Harold Club at Cleckheaton Sports, top green (6.30pm start), Brighouse Sports A v Mirfield Old Bank A at Spen Victoria, bottom green (7pm start), Morton House v Hightown Club at Mirfield Old Bank (6.30pm start), Ossett Flying Horse v Eccleshill at Brighouse No 2 green (6.45pm start); Byes – Pudsey A, Spen Victoria A and Crossgates.

Draw for first round of Pilling Cup (matches to be played on Friday, April 3) – Rastrick v Spen Victoria B at Brighouse number 1 green (6.45pm start), Pudsey B v Shipley Club at Lower Hopton (7pm start), Cleckheaton Moorend v Brighouse Sports B at Hanging Heaton (7pm start), Overthorpe Sports v Mirfield Old Bank B at Ossett Flying Horse (6.45pm start); Byes – Littlemoor B, Cleckheaton Sports B, Clayton and Hanging Heaton.

The Bradford Saturday League gets under way this weekend for the Observer, Bartle, Haigh and Riley Leagues. Newcomers Cononley start with an away match at a depleted Wibsey A, who have lost several members during the winter months, and will struggle to keep their place in the Observer League. Cononley, with their superb home green, will definitely be in contention come the end of the season. A full report on all Saturday’s matches will appear in next week’s T&A.

Entries are still being taken for the 2015 Shipley Classic, sponsored by H H Birch & Son, which takes place in May and June. The qualifying dates are Fridays – May 15, 22, 29 and June 5, with the finals night on Friday, June 12. Entry fee is £15, with total prize money exceeding £1,500 – anyone interested should contact John Preston on 07460-851570.

Clubs are reminded to submit their registered players to the association registrar John Preston by Saturday, April 4.