LAST season's Division One runners-up Bradford No 1 took on their promoted No 2 side in the opening round of the Yorkshire Inter-District League at Undercliffe Cricket Club – and were given an almighty scare.

Bradford No 2 were unfortunate to be relegated from the top flight two years ago but were dominant in finishing top of Division Two last season and appear to have brought that confidence into the new season.

Anthony Green took on ten-time Bradford champion Wayne Cooper, who rarely loses a frame for his city, but found himself on the wrong end of both.

The first frame was evenly matched, Green taking it on the black 57-54, before notching the second 78-38 with the aid of a 43 break.

Four-time Bradford champion Gareth Green then put the No 2 side 3-0 up, taking the first frame 73-52 with a 47 break.

But No 1 captain Kevin Firth stopped the rot, pinching their next frame on the black 65-58 with a 37 break to pull the match back to 3-1.

By his own admission, Lewis Walsh struggled to get any momentum with Bradford No 1 last season but, having had a season's experience with the side – coupled with representing the England Masters team in the summer – he is hoping for a change in fortune.

Walsh took on No 2 captain Hanif Rafiq and just edged their first frame 54-39. That was before rounding off the match in style with an excellent break of 70 for a 78-10 win to ensure the teams shared the six frames with a 3-3 result.

* MARK Ball of Eccleshill Victoria Con Club is the first player through to the second round of the Bradford Snooker Championships after an impressive 4-3 win over much-fancied Stefan Risidi (Owlett Hall Social).

The match was tied at 3-3 when Ball fluked the first red of the decider and produced a spectacular 131 total clearance.

Alan Austin and Joe Hollins defeated fellow Eccleshill Victoria duo Darren Goy and Simon Jackson 3-2 in the first round of the Bradford Snooker Pairs.