Bradford No 2 take the headlines (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford No 2 take the headlines

3:15pm Wednesday 14th November 2007 in Sport By Sports Desk

There were mixed fortunes for Bradford's three representative sides in the Yorkshire Inter-District League.

Bradford No 1 were far from their best and ended with a 3-3 draw against Harrogate at Undercliffe Cricket Club.

Wayne Cooper got the hosts off to a great start, making a 65 break in winning the opening frame, but former Bradford player Matthew Holt brought the match level with a solid performance in frame two.

Then it was Simon Bedford against his coach and mentor Steve Prest, Bedford lifting the opening frame before Prest cleared with a break of 41 to again tie the match.

It was a similar story for Mark Slater, who won his first frame comfortably but opponent Gyles Behbood ensured Harrogate shared the points, picking off the colours in a very scrappy final frame.

There was an excellent result for Bradford No 2, playing their first match at a new venue of Manningham Ward and beating Huddersfield 4-2.

The night was a success for the club and the team duly delivered, with Boover Singh winning both opening frames, making a 53 break in the first.

Hanif Rafiq lost a scrappy opening frame, but settled well to comfortably win his second.

Mick Bedford put Bradford 4-1 in front before his opponent pulled one back.

In billiards, Bradford hosted Harrogate at Cullingworth Conservative Club and were on the wrong end of a 5-2 defeat, with losses for Brian Watson and Jason Devanney, but there a good win for Nigel Stebbings.

Cooper returns to action this weekend in the secondary Pro Ticket Tour at Woking.

Currently third on the tour, Cooper has a tricky first-round match against Brian Cox, with the possibility of facing Paul Hunter Open winner Matthew Couch in the second round, whom Cooper pushed all the way in the quarter-finals there.

In the Bradford Amateur Championships, Paul Jackson (Denholme Conservative Club) beat Andrew North (Salthorn WMC) 4-0 in the singles.

There have been some close matches in the pairs, although 2006 winners Mark Slater and Jason Murgatroyd of Great Horton Cons enjoyed a 3-0 whitewash of M Taylor and M Heenan (Low Moor Club).

Other results: D Parker & P Wood (Laisterdyke WMC) 3, A Stirk & G Cooper (Salthorn WMC) 2; D&C Tolson (Cuedos) 3, C Bucham & C Brook (Windhill Cons) 2; A Hodgson & C Smith (Tong Libs) 3, A&M North (Salthorn WMC) 2; E Ratcliffe & P Storey (East Ward) 3, C Smith & D Maloney (Gt Horton Cricket) 1.

Players have until November 30 to complete their matches. Second legs in the preliminary round of the Flexprint Services-sponsored Hey's Trophy are to be played tonight with result sheets sent to me by Monday.

The first round is scheduled for Thursdays November 29 and December 13.