It seems highly likely that defending Bradford League Division One champions Highdale A will not be retaining their title – but Highdale B are making a strong case to keep the crown in house.

Richard Whiteley is spearheading the B team’s challenge as they made it win number six at Unity A. Whiteley dropped only one game as he registered three victories and, with Stephen Denny and Peter Morgan taking two each, Highdale won 7-3 to move to 55 points with a 13-point lead over Dewsbury Sedbergh.

Yorkshire Veterans’ first team included Richard Lightowler and Simon Pugh in their line-up for the first Premier Division weekend at Halifax. Yorkshire defeated Northampton 8-2 and Sussex 7-3 but were beaten 6-4 by Leicestershire, who won all their three matches to share top place with Lancashire.

Bradford League – Division One: Dewsbury Tog 9, Embassy A 1; Unity A 3, Highdale B 7; Unity B 1, Highdale A 9. Division Two: Fastbats C 3, Unity C 7. Division Three: Laisterdyke C 4, Unity D 6; Laisterdyke B 8, Hermits C 2. Division Four: Hermits F 4, Rastrick BC 6. Division Five: Thornbury 0, Baildon A 10; Fastbats G 1, Baildon C 9. Burton Cup: Fastbats B 2, Unity B 7.