GARY Walker (21-7) and Peter Ellis (21-8) helped Spen Victoria A card a narrow 16-14 home victory over Wyke A in the Godwin second-tier section on their return to the Bradford Saturday League.

Neil Tordoff replied for Wyke with a great 21-8 effort, the pick of five away winners, as they look for a quick return to the top flight.

Another team looking do the same are Ladyhill A and they will have been disappointed to go down 16-14 at Clayton B.

Both teams carded five winners in a high-scoring match, with Clayton edging the aggregate by just two chalks thanks to 21-14 winning cards from Chris Wilson and Martin Smith.

Hove Edge have entered another team this season, one that is stronger than all their others, and the newcomers started with an 'away' match against their B team.

David Ryding (21-4), John Butterworth (21-4) and Danny Radliffe (21-8) ensured a great start with a 21-9 win for the A team, despite a great 21-7 result from Richard Hopley for the hosts.

Shipley Club B have lost players this season and are surely going to find it tough, losing 21-9 against Guiseley A thanks to impressive wins from Andrew Durkin (21-8), Gary Whelan (21-9) and Martin Wilson (21-9). Peter Mountain's 21-10 success was the best of three home winners for Shipley.

Pudsey B went down to a surprise 16-14 home defeat against Rufford A, with Helen Gilroy's 21-9 making the difference as Rufford edged the aggregate by six chalks.

Hipperholme & Lightcliffe A started their Observer (Division Three) campaign with an 18-12 home win over Brighouse Sports B, despite only managing five home winners. John Denham (21-6), Dougie Gordon (21-6), Steve Swallow (21-7) and Nick Crowther (21-9) ensured a 26-point aggregate success. Gordon Bradford produced a great 21-5 effort for the visitors on his Bradford League debut.

Littlemoor B look a strong team this year and began with a 17-13 victory at Drighlington thanks to Mark Dobson (21-7), Nicky Dewhirst (21-8) and Steven Bowes (21-9), although Charles Wood showed some resistance with a 21-7 winning card.

Craig Tavendale (21-5) was the pick of seven homes winners for Crowghyll A as they defeated Harold Park 21-9, with Stewart Firth (21-7) replying for the visitors.

Ladyhill B were 22-8 home winners over Hightown, with Lee Hicks (21-5) and Peter Finnie (21-9) the pick of seven home winners as Tim Miller (21-9) replied.

Wibsey A opened with a 17-13 win at West Bradford A in the Bartle (Division Four) section, with Gary Woodhead (21-8) and Thomas Bailey (21-9) the best of six away winners. Starring for the hosts were Jason Greenwood (21-4) and David Bottomley (21-8).

Tom Jagger (21-4) helped Harold Club to a 20-10 home victory over Hove Edge C, while Asa Briggs B were in terrific form with a 29-1 demolition of Peel which included seven single-figure winners – Peter Wilkinson (21-3), Clive Foord (21-4), Andy Southwell (21-6), Mark Pearson (21-8), Jordan Brown (21-9), Matthew Pearson (21-9) and Kath Sansom (21-9). Pauline Wilkinson (21-11) was the only winner for Peel.

South Leeds Cons were also big home winners, beating Tyersal A 26-4 with Brian Newton (21-7) and Scott Sigsworth (21-9) the pick of nine home victors.

Pudsey C got the better of Royd House with an 18-12 home win as Lynne Shaw (21-6) and Richard Hodgson (21-7) did the damage.

Brackenhill defeated Armley Cons 18-12 in the Haigh (Division Five) competition thanks to Madeline Gamble (21-2), David Watson (21-3) and David Pearson (21-5), Kevin Gilroy replying for the visitors with a (21-7) winning card.

Guiseley B edged a 16-14 verdict at home to Burley Park, with Lynne Ogden (21-7) and Andy Swallow (21-7) starring for Guiseley as Pat Dacre (21-7) and Mark McCann (21-8) replied, the hosts edging the aggregate by just a single point.

Wins for Laurie Taylor (21-5) and Yvonne Northrop (21-8) were not enough for Birkenshaw as Cleckheaton Sports A left with a narrow 16-14 away win, Kath Icke (21-10) being the pick of five away successes.

Brian Royston produced a great 21-8 effort for Salts at Queensbury A but that was as good as got for the visitors as they suffered a 25-5 defeat, with Dereck Squires (21-2), Maureen Holmes (21-4) and David Clough (21-8) all on top form.

Oakenshaw A were also big home winners with a 25-5 victory over Akroydon Victoria B, with Marlene Hughes (21-1), Marian Firth (21-3) and Harry Foster (21-3) doing the damage.