BRADFORD face a battle to avoid the wooden spoon in the Yorkshire Inter-District League after they slipped to a 21-15 defeat at Blackwell Grange in their penultimate game against Teesside.

The loss left them join-bottom with last Sunday's hosts and Leeds, with Martin Gaffney's side due to welcome leaders Sheffield in their final match.

After claiming four halves in the morning foursomes to trail 8-4, Bradford lost a tight singles session 13-11.

But there were positives for Gaffney, who was keen to blood new youngsters once their chance of challenging at the top had gone.

They impressed with Woodhall Hills pair Ben Rhodes and Harry O'Callaghan claiming singles triumphs along with James Tate of Bradford. Cleckheaton's Oliver Tasker and Gaffney himself were the other winners.

Sheffield are due at Northcliffe on Sunday, September 4.