BRADFORD'S billiards team suffered a disappointing 7-0 defeat away to title aspirants Harrogate – a line-up who have strengthened this season and are expected to challenge Huddersfield 1 for the title.

Stephen Kershaw and Harrogate's Stephen Crosland were both below their best, but the Bradford captain got away first, only to be pegged back by Crosland's 34 break around the halfway point.

The second half of the game followed a similar pattern before Crosland closed the game out with an unfinished break of 37 for a 200-151 Harrogate victory.

The second game was of better quality but followed a similar pattern.

Bradford's Steve Wilman establishing an early lead before Jonathan Marwood came back and, although a break of 41 from Wilman re-established his lead, Marwood came back again to level and then complete a 200-177 victory.

Bradford's hopes of avoiding a whitewash rested with Paul Devitt, but he was behind from the start against Tom Halliday.

And with both players adopting a safety first approach, the game became almost attritional at times, as Halliday hung onto his early lead.

Devitt was never quite able to get on terms and fortune favoured Harrogate in the latter stages as Devitt went down 167-200.

The Bradford Billiards Championship takes place on Saturday, February 13 at Cue Gardens. The format will be similar to last year with round robin matches to produce four semi-finalists and all players are guaranteed a minimum of three one-hour games.

Entries will be accepted on the day up to 11.45am with play commencing at 12-noon. The entry fee has been held at £12.

Rob Armitage from Huddersfield won the Yorkshire Snooker Handicap at Cue Gardens, with a 3-0 victory over Keighley's Stefan Risidi in the Final.

Both players had been consistent throughout the day, with both playing off a minus 10 handicap. But it was Armitage who continued that right to the end and was deserved winner.

Risidi had produced some of his best snooker in the semi finals, making breaks of 79 and 80 in defeating last seasons runner-up Gerard Smythe 3-1, whilst Armitage beat Bradford No.2 captain Hanif Rafiq by the same score in their semi-final.

Bradford's Snooker teams are in action this weekend in the Yorkshire Inter District League. Bradford No.1 travel to Leeds, while the number 2 side are at Ossett No.2. Both are playing on Sunday (7.30pm).