DEFENDING champions Leeds have avenged their early-season defeat to Bradford in the Yorkshire Inter-District Billiards League.

The visitors won 5-2 at Great Horton Cricket Club, skipper Jonathan Bagley being quickly into his stride with a break of 69 on his first scoring visit.

A break of 39 followed and he closed the game out with 55 unfinished, giving Paul Devitt very little opportunity to play in a 200-55 defeat.

The first significant score in the second game also went Leeds' way, when Bob Patterson compiled a break of 41 to lead 76-29. Bradford's Steve Wilman narrowed the gap to 114-100, aided by a beak of 30 and several smaller contributions, before Patterson notched breaks of 36 and 29 back to back to take the game away again and win by 200-132.

In a scrappy third game, captain Stephen Kershaw restored some pride for Bradford when beating Dave Barker 200-115, but Leeds still boosted their title bid.

Bradford's next game away to Huddersfield has been brought forward a week and will be played on Saturday at New Mill in Huddersfield (7.30pm).

The draw for the semi-finals of the Bradford Billiards Championship were made after Saturday's match, with Bill Oates pulling out the names.

Defending champion Mark Hirst was paired against Devitt, with Wilman taking on Kershaw. Dates and venues have yet to be arranged.