LITTLEMOOR A moved further away from the Naylor section relegation zone with a substantial home win over Ladyhill A in the Bradford Saturday League.

The top-flight clash finished 24-6 in favour of the hosts, with Jack Bowes 21-3 and Neil McPhail 21-9 the pick of eight Littlemoor winners.

Shipley Club A and Whitkirk are starting to falter, leaving Pudsey A looking favourites to be crowned champions – especially after a 24-6 win over relegation-threatened Eccleshill A after an impressive nine home winners.

Brighouse Sports A are hot on the heels of Pudsey after matching their 24-6 home win over struggling Cranmore, with Ronnie Wormald 21-3, Richard Hobson 21-5, Hedley Kettlewell 21-6 and Steve Foster 21-9 all impressing.

Crossgates are making steady progress after a disappointing start to the season and their latest victims were leaders Whitkirk. Crossgates took the game 20-10, highlighted by wins for James Wilcox 21-4, Steven Gilroy 21-7 and Mark Taylor 21-9.

Shipley Club A suffered a third defeat on the trot after going down 18-12 at Clayton A, with Chris Wilson's 21-5 making the difference.

Wyke A and Asa Briggs A look strong favourites for promotion from the second-tier Godwin division, although Guiseley A may well have a say in the final outcome.

All three teams had big home wins in their latest outings, with leaders Wyke beating Greengates A 24-6 thanks to 21-9 winning cards by John Armitage and Peter Jagger.

Asa Briggs remain third, but with a game in hand on second place, after a 30-0 demolition of Brighouse Sports B. Andrew Heenan 21-4, Alan Forrest 21-7 and Simon Walder 21-7 were the pick of ten home winners.

Guiseley just about stay in touch with a 25-5 home win over Littlemoor B, courtesy of Gary Whelan 21-6, Luke Teale 21-7 and Dave Norris 21-7.

Elland CA&BC continue to fall away, despite carding an 18-12 win over struggling Rufford A. Andy Newell's great 21-2 victory for Rufford went unrewarded.

Eccleshill B defeated Pudsey B 21-9, with both teams comfortably positioned in mid-table. Dan Beardsworth's 21-9 was in vain for Pudsey as Eccleshill managed eight home winners, with all the close rubbers going the way of the hosts.

* GARETH Coates (Akroydon Victoria) and Mark Hughes (Crossgates) were week six qualifiers in the Spen Masters, sponsored by P&I Hopkins Butchers of Birkenshaw.

Coates qualified with wins over Peter Wilcox (Crossgates) 21-14, Dave Mallinson (Millhouses) 21-17 and Andy Hodgson (Pudsey) 21-7, while Hughes saw off Kevan Shaw (Bolton) 21-9, Andrew Spragg (Chesterfield) 21-11 and Thomas Hanson (Pudsey) 21-13.

Qualifying continues on Saturday evening with many local bowlers in action.

Draw (practice from 5.30pm for a 6pm start): John Kennish (Isle of Man) v Craig Gant (Netherton Cons), David Burns (Ossett Flying Horse) v Callum Wraight (Shrewsbury), Peter Clark (Cross Roads) v Dave Penketh (St Oswalds), Clay Flattley (St George BC) v Tony Riley (Brighouse Sports), Liam Griffin (Pudsey) v Kevin Burns (Ossett Flying Horse), Scott Fisher (Denby Grange) v Andrew Tate (Clayton), Richie Goddard (Shrewsbury) v Paul Williams (St George BC), Jack Summers (Asa Briggs) v Lee Johnstone (Poynton).

* GARETH Gwilliam (Hyde) and Chris Mordue (Pudsey) were the latest qualifiers in the £5,300 Brighouse Classic.

Gwilliam beat Robert Hitchen (Halifax) 21-9 to qualify and Mordue defeated Paul Ingleby (Huddersfield) 21-17.

The qualifying rounds continue tomorrow evening, with holder Graeme Wilson having a first-round game against Jimmy Hearne of Wyke.

Draw (6.30pm start): Joe Cranston (Crossgates)) v Lee Heaton (Preston), Mark Johnson (Barnsley) v Matt Hill (Stoke), Jimmy Hearne (Wyke) v Graeme Wilson (Audenshaw), Peter Hulse junior (Stoke) v Gerald Merry (Tarporley), Mark Ferris (Leek) v Nigel Cranston (Crossgates), George Podmore (Stoke) v Andrew Spragg (Chesterfield), John Kennish (Isle of Man) v Steve Davies (Liverpool), Craig Beck (Barnsley) v Matt Fellows (Stoke).

* THE quarter-finals of the Bradford Pairs KO, sponsored by Leeming & Peel Ltd, takes place on Friday, August 28, although the venues are still to be confirmed.

This year's competition is handicapped and, due to teams not detailing player strength, it has caused concern for many clubs. This will have to be looked at in 2016.

Preliminary round: Asa Briggs B (24) 90, Brackenhill (40) 103; Salts (40) 111, Eccleshill (32) 93; Wibsey (16) 91, Tyersal (32) 99; Birkenshaw (32) 102, Wyke (8) 78.

Quarter-final draw: Brackenhill (40) v Salts (40), Tyersal (32) v Birkenshaw (32), Bradford Moor (40) v Shipley Club (0), Asa Briggs A (10) v Clayton A (0).

* FINALS day of the Howarth and Supplementary Cups takes place on Sunday.

Asa Briggs have the chance of making it an all domestic Howarth final as the A team take on Hove Edge in one semi-final and the B team tackle Bradford Moor in the other.

Howarth Cup quarter-finals: Clayton B (30) 171, Asa Briggs B (40) 187; Shipley Club (0) 142, Hove Edge (30) 152; Brackenhill (60) 195, Bradford Moor (60) 207; Clayton A (0) 125, Asa Briggs A (10) 163.

Semi-final draw (10.30am): Asa Briggs B (40) v Hove Edge (30), at Woodvale; Bradford Moor (60) v Asa Briggs A (10), at Hipperholme & Lightcliffe.

Supplementary Cup quarter-finals: Eccleshill (0) 157, Wyke (30) 159; Tyersal (50) 215, Horton (70) 163; West Bradford (40) 199, Wibsey B (50) 155; Wibsey A (30) 160, Harold Park (40) 185.

Semi-final draw (10.30am): Wyke (30) v Tyersal (50), at Hove Edge (No 1 green); West Bradford (40) v Harold Park (40), at Hove Edge (No 2 green).

The finals will take place at Elland CA&BC at approximately 1pm, with the Howarth Cup on No 1 green and the Supplementary Cup on No 2.

* ENTRIES are now being taken for the Hospital Handicap, sponsored by Damart, which takes place at Hove Edge on Sunday, August 23.

This continues to prove the most popular of Bradford's competitions, with all players handicapped and in with a chance of going all the way.

The entry fee is £2 and anyone interested should contact Martin Hayton on 07825-740281.

* THE Yorkshire County Parks Veterans Individual Merit takes place at Shipley Club tomorrow from 10.30am.