BRADFORD defeated Bolton 24-8 in their opening Federation match.

In the home match at Asa Briggs, Bradford carded an impressive ten winners as they took the aggregate by a staggering 120 chalks.

The first four for Bradford were all in scintillating form, with Bolton's first four only scoring a combined total of 13 chalks.

Tony Throup (Spen Victoria) 21-2 was the pick of the winners, although Scott Bloodworth (Ladyhill) was later given the man of the match performance for his 21-4 success.

Jack Bowes (Littlemoor), the youngest member of the Bradford team, deserves a special mention. He travelled by bus to practice on Saturday afternoon, as well as for the match on Sunday, and was rewarded with a 21-9 winning card.

In the away match at Kings Head in Bolton, the winners were shared, with Chris Wilson (Clayton) 21-7 and Ashley Southwell (Asa Briggs) 21-5 the pick of the Bradford bunch, ensuring that they won the away aggregate by 30 chalks.

Next up for Bradford is a match against a strong Warrington team on Sunday, June 25.

Home match – Bradford 244 (10) Bolton 124 (2): Stuart King (Asa Briggs) 21 Andy Hurst 4, Tony Throup (Spen Victoria) 21 Neil Proctor 2, Scott Bloodworth (Ladyhill) 21 Tony Alcock 4, Richard Bloodworth (Ladyhill) 21 Peter Howard 3, Tracy Preston (Shipley Club) 21 Jim Vickers 9, Andy Fowler (Clayton) 21 John Haslem 18, Jack Bowes (Littlemoor) 21 Jim Riley 9, Andy Denton (Asa Briggs) 21 Paul Booth 9, Graham Baggley (Shipley Club) 18 John Southern 21, Craig Fenton (Shipley Club) 16 Ken Shaw 21, Paul Kaye (Clayton) 21 Les Brown 11, Paul Gill (Clayton) 21 Dave Parkinson 7.

Away match – Bolton 191 (6) Bradford 221 (8): Jordan Brown (Asa Briggs) 19 Lynn Higson 21, Chris Wilson (Clayton) 21 Laura Consterdine 7, Trevor Benn (Wyke) 14 Ian Pendlebury 21, Scott Sansom (Asa Briggs) 14 Kevin Graham 21, Chris Ellis (Spen Victoria) 21 Frank Thompson 11, Andy Southwell (Asa Briggs) 21 Ron Brooks 16, Ashley Southwell (Asa Briggs) 21 Vinny Southern 5, Peter Ellis (Spen Victoria) 20 Ray Sale 21, Mark Cunningham (Shipley Club) 13 Stuart Unsworth 21, Kevin Wood (Spen Victoria) 15 Steve Davies 21, Andrew Wood (Spen Victoria) 21 Keith Andrews 12, Neil Tordoff (Wyke) 21 Carl Glover 14.

* THE finals of the West Riding Cup and Pilling Cup take place at Spen Victoria tomorrow (7pm), with Pudsey A taking on Lower Hopton in the West Riding while Littlemoor meet Crossgates in the Pilling.

West Riding Cup semi-finals: Pudsey A 240 Ossett Flying Horse 215, Lower Hopton 244 Harold Club 144.

Draw for West Riding Cup final (Pudsey names first): Thomas Hanson v Harry Seehra, Dean Scarth v Craig Newton, Liam Griffin v Paul Ingleby, James Hanson v Ian Booth, John Spinks v Robert Hitchen, Gary Wike v Graham Hirst, David Upton v Ashley Tattersley, Chris Mordue v Stephen Pinfield, Josh Mordue v Joel Abdy, Dave Smith v Simon Walder, Ian Shaw v Neil Slattery, Chris Hatton v Stuart King.

Pilling Cup semi-finals: Spen Victoria A 201 Littlemoor S&SC A 242, Crossgates 238 Guiseley 162.

Draw for Pilling Cup final (Littlemoor names first): Marc Armitage v James Wilcox, Glen Smith v Gareth Lally, Mark Allman v Jonny Wood, Nigel Roper v Kieren Smith, Martin Fulton v Peter Wilcox, Craig Hebbard v Joseph Cranston, Lee Wider v Mick Wood, Paul Wilczynski v Rachel Quirk, Nathan Dobson v Steven Gilroy, Jack Bowes v Kevin Siddle, Adam Wider v Nigel Cranston, Craig Farquharson v Mark Hughes.