Aire Wharfe lost 21-11 in their second Federation bowls match against Doncaster.

In the home match in difficult conditions at Shipley Club, Aire Wharfe edged the aggregate by 17 points, although both teams had six winners each. The pick of the home winners were Neil Nicholson (Shipley Club) and Cliff Taylor (Ilkley), who both carded 21-12 victories. However, at Yorkshire Main, Aire Wharfe found it tough going, with only three winners in total, David Kirkbright (Rufford, 21-8) the star performer.

Doncaster won the aggregate by 45 points and overall by 28 points.

Scores from Shipley Club – G Whelan (Guiseley) 16-21, N Nicholson (Shipley Club) 21-12, D Rankin (Yeadon Park) 21-13, S Ainley (Rufford) 21-19, D Norris (Yeadon Park) 17-21, C Taylor (Ilkley) 21-12, D Carter (Tarnfield) 21-13, C Lodge (Wharfemeadows) 19-21, K Lee (Yeadon Park) 18-21, R Waite (Guiseley) 16-21, M Hall (Guiseley) 17-21, J Preston (Shipley Club) 21-17. Aire Wharfe 229 (8), Doncaster 212 (6).

Scores from Yorkshire Main – J Benson (Rufford) 14-21, J Stockdale (Guiseley) 9-21, E Holmes (Myrtle Park) 9-21, D Kirkbright (Rufford) 21-8, P Hepworth (Myrtle Park) 20-21, T Southern (Shipley Club) 17-21, R Lyons (Baildon) 13-21, S Morris (Oxenhope) 21-19, C Hight (Farsley) 21-11, R Benson (Rufford) 18-21, R Stockdale (Guiseley) 8-21, M Barker (Myrtle Park) 11-21. Aire Wharfe 182 (3), Doncaster 227 (9).

Bradford defeated Wakefield 38-18 in their recent Veterans Inter District match. In the home match at Ladyhill Park, Bradford carded six winners, with Brian Jennings (Crowghyll) the pick of them, helping Bradford to a 50-point success. In the away match at Ossett Cricket & Athletic Club, Bradford managed four winners, with Len Hanson (Wyke) winning 21-5 to secure the away aggregate.

Scores from Ladyhill Park – Alan Standing (Asa Briggs) 21-9, Bill Hutchinson (Lister) 21-16, Bill Robson (Knowles) 21-15, David Hodgson (Crowghyll) 21-10, Brian Jennings (Crowghyll) 21-8, John Ramsey (Lister) 16-21, David Bottomley (Lister) 21-9, Graham Oliver (Knowles) 17-21; Bradford 159 (23), Wakefield 109 (5).

Scores from Ossett Cricket & Athletic Club – Len Hanson (Wyke) 21-5, Tony Riley (Clayton) 21-11, Bob Baines (Pudsey Littlemoor) 21-10, Mick Lambert (Wyke) 21-15, Donald Firth (Peel) 16-21, Gerry Hird (Wyke) 15-21, David Burns (Peel) 9-21, Ken Green (Wyke) 8-21. Bradford 132 (15), Wakefield 125 (13).

Bradford’s next game is against Skipton on Friday, June 3, with the home match at Oakenshaw and the away match at Skipton Devon.

Home team – Alan Standing (Asa Briggs), Bill Hutchinson (Lister), Graham Oliver (Knowles), David Hodgson (Crowghyll), Brian Jennings (Crowghyll), Bill Robson (Knowles), Nino Esposito (Lister), David Bottomley (Lister), Reserves - Keith Goodall (Peel), John Ramsey (Lister).

Away team – Ken Green (Wyke), Tony Riley (Clayton), Mick Lambert (Wyke), Gerry Hird (Wyke), Laurie Walsh (Knowles), Donald Firth (Peel), David Burns (Peel), Bob Baines (Littlemoor).

Andy Cairns (Rossendale) and Richard Helliwell (Mytholmroyd WMC) were the first qualifiers of the Shipley Classic, sponsored by Giles Insurance and Yorkshire Building Society.

Cairns was never really troubled with wins over Gary Foulkes (South Leeds Cons) 21-7, Tony Batchelder (Marehay BC) 21-7 and Danny Sillitoe (Dearne Sports) 21-10.

Helliwell opened up against last year’s runner-up Nigel Roper (Pudsey Littlemoor), and played almost perfect bowls, demolishing Roper 21-5.

Next up for Helliwell was Paul Hillam (Eccleshill), who had edged a thrilling first-round match against favourite Graeme Wilson (Lower Hopton) 21-20. Helliwell was always in control, and at 17-10 seemed an easy winner, only for Hillam to mount a comeback to level at 19 across.

Two singles saw Helliwell home 21-19, and a qualifying match against an in-form Ashley Wilcock (Crossgates). Unfortunately for Wilcock, his form deserted him, as Helliwell eased to a 20-1 lead. With more precision bowling, Wilcock managed three late singles, as Helliwell qualified with a 21-4 success.

First round – Danny Sillitoe (Dearne Sports) 21, Paul Jacques (Littlemoor) 19; Adam Mellor (Peel Park) 21, Alan Thompson (Mirfield Old Bank) 17; Andy Cairns (Rossendale) 21, Gary Foulkes (South Leeds Cons) 7; Steve Griffiths (Denholme) 15, Tony Batchelder (Marehay BC) 21; Mick Hall (Guiseley) 10, Chris Hill (Bradfield) 21; Ashley Wilcock (Crossgates) 21, Andrew Sykes (Mirfield Old Bank) 10; Nigel Roper (Littlemoor) 5, Richard Helliwell (Mytholmroyd WMC) 21; Paul Hillam (Eccleshill) 21, Graeme Wilson (Lower Hopton) 20. Second round – Sillitoe 21, Mellor 12; Cairns 21, Batchelder 7; Hill 19, Wilcock 21; Helliwell 21, Hillam 19;. Third round – Sillitoe 10, Cairns 21; Wilcock 4, Helliwell 21.

Draw for week two on Friday – Lisa Rice (Drighlington) v Andy Wood (Brighouse Sports), David Walker (Scholes) v Mick Bastow (Skipton Craven), Roger Crowther (Longwood) v Stuart Wilson (Greengates), Mick Angus (Eccleshill) v Mark Regan (Brighouse Sports), Harry Seehra (Spen Victoria) v Richard Hobson (Brighouse Sports), Andy Hodgson (Pudsey) v Jack Summers (Asa Briggs), Simon Rothwell (Brighouse Sports) v Mally Fowler (Ladyhill Park), Kevin Wood (Brighouse Sports) v Lee Lawton (Lower Hopton).

The Yorkshire Parks Inter City takes place on Sunday. Eight teams are split into two pools of four, with Aire Wharfe, Bradford, Heavy Woollen and Sheffield in Pool A, and Hebden Royd, Leeds, Barkston Ash and Leeds Ladies in Pool B.

Pool A (10am start) – Bradford v Heavy Woollen at Heckmondwike No 1, Aire Wharfe v Sheffield at Spen Victoria Top, Bradford v Aire Wharfe at Heckmondwike No 2, Sheffield v Heavy Woollen at Spen Victoria Bottom, Heavy Woollen v Aire Wharfe at Royds Park, Bradford v Sheffield at Thornhill.

Pool B – Hebden Royd v Leeds at Heckmondwike No 2, Barkston Ash v Leeds Ladies at Spen Vic Bottom, Hebden Royd v Barkston Ash at Spen Vic Top, Leeds Ladies v Leeds at Heckmondwike No 1, Hebden Royd v Leeds Ladies at Mirfield Old Bank, Leeds v Barkston Ash at Millbridge Park.

The winners of each pool will contest the final at Hanging Heaton at approximately 5.30pm.

Bradford team – Bob Whitfield (Brighouse Sports), Tony Riley (Brighouse Sports), Chris Mordue (Brighouse Sports), Paul Rooks (Eccleshill), James Davison (Eccleshill), Paul Hillam (Eccleshill), Jon Edmondson (Pudsey), Ian Shaw (Pudsey), Stuart King (Pudsey Littlemoor), Paul Gill (Clayton).

Aire Wharfe squad – Gary Whelan (Guiseley), Mick Hall (Guiseley), Richard Stockdale (Guiseley), John Benson (Rufford), Ryan Benson (Rufford), Steve Ainley (Rufford), John Preston (Shipley Club), Chris Hight (Farsley), Peter Hepworth (Myrtle Park), Dave Rankin (Yeadon Park), Mark Barker (Myrtle Park).

Mark Hughes (Crossgates) was the winner of the Yorkshire Parks Merit, sponsored by Wibsey DIY Centre and Beacon Road Fisheries, beating clubmate Kieron Smith in the final, who found himself runner-up for the second successive year. Losing semi-finalists were Andy Hodgson (Pudsey) and Barry Turnbull (Clayton).

The Yorkshire Cup/Henry Taylor/Eric Hutchinson and Derek Radley trophies reach the last 32 stage on Saturday, June 4.

Full draws: Yorkshire Cup – Alverthorpe WMC v Netherton Con B at Cleckheaton Moorend, Garforth Rec v Kirkheaton Con at The Hollies, Eccleshill v Mirfield Old Bank A at Elland WMC, Linthwaite C&BC v Lockwood Con A at Marsh Utd, Crossgates v Lindley Lib at Thornhill C&BC, Brighouse Sports B v Thongsbridge A at Halifax BC, Marsh Utd v Brockholes BC at Huddersfield RUFC, Lower Hopton WMC B v Brighouse Sports A (Glasshoughton), Pudsey BC v Spen Victoria A at Skipton Broughton Road, Slaithwaite v Cross Roads at Horbury WMC, Elland C&BC v Skipton Broughton Road at Shipley BC, Asa Briggs v Sowerby Bridge Hillcrest at Bradley & Colne, Cononley v Lower Hopton A (Rufford Park), Almondbury Lib B v Clayton Victoria at Wakefield BC, Pudsey Littlemoor v Waterloo BC at Cononley, Mirfield Old Bank B v Netherton Con A at Asa Briggs.

Henry Taylor – Farnley Tyas v Tadcaster BC at Hemsworth Welfare, Greengates v Borough BC at Tadcaster, Hemplow B v Shepley BC at Lindley BC, Chapel Street BC v Hemsworth Welfare at Denby Dale, Cleckheaton Sports A v South Leeds Cons at Pontefract BC, Clayton West v Guiseley at Greenroyd, Castleford Town v West Yorkshire Sports at Shepley BC, Longwood BC A v Thorpe Green at Grange Moor, Paddock Con v Crossland Moor BC B at Thorpe Green, Grange Moor v Wibsey Park at West Yorkshire Sports, Swillington Welfare v Sandal BC at Holbeck Limited, Canal Side A v Greenroyd at Morton House, Blakeborough Albion v Denby Dale at Lockwood Con, Lindley BC v Milnsbridge BC at Newsome WMC, Elland WMC v Netherton Con C at Hightown Libs, Outlane v Longwood BC B at Brockholes.

Eric Hutchinson – Myrtle Park v Overthorpe Sports at Wibsey Park, Skipton Craven v Horsforth Woodside at Outlane BC, Whitby BC v Eccleshill at Boston Spa, Dalton BC v Hanging Heaton at Outwood WMC, Ossett Flying Horse v Spen Victoria at Sowerby Bridge Hillcrest, Cranmore v Jackson Bridge at Millbridge Park, The Hollies S&SC v Thornhill C&BC at Hove Edge, Shipley BC v Huddersfield RUFC at Alverthorpe, Rufford Park A v Castleford Town at Crossgates, Hightown Libs v Pudsey Littlemoor at South Kirby Miners Welfare, Glasshoughton Welfare v Colton BC at Garforth Rec, Drighlington Park v Magnet Sports at Savile Park, Horton Park v Cleckheaton Moorend at Springwood BC, Pudsey BC v Crowghyll Park at Thorner, Savile Park (Cas) v Whitkirk at Hanging Heaton, Horbury WMC A v Pontefract BC at Pudsey BC.

Derek Radley – Ossett C&AC v Harold Park at Crowghyll Park, Northowram v Hunmanby at Scholes, Bradley & Colne v Royds Park at Cross Hills, Outwood WMC v Thorner at Almondbury BC, Cowcliffe Lib B v Almondbury Lib B at Milnsbridge BC, Denby Grange v Morton House at Crossland Moor BC, Broad Oak BC v Holbeck Limited at Birkenshaw Park, Grove Hill v Settle at Sowerby Bridge West End, Millbridge Park v Birkenshaw Park at Golcar Libs, Golcar Lib B v Oxenhope at South Leeds Cons, Ripponden Park v Skelmanthorpe Central at Cleckheaton Sports, Horbury WMC B v Bridlington Westgate at Whitkirk, South Kirby Miners Welfare v Boston Spa at Overthorpe Sports, Cleckheaton Sports v Shelf Hall Park at Grove Hill, Crosshills & District v Almondbury BC A at Northowram, Marsh Lib v Shepley BC at Broad Oak.

Today is the closing date for the Junior Handicap, sponsored by the Law family in memory of Les Law of Queensbury. It takes place at Queensbury on Sunday, June 5, with a 1pm start and scratch. Entry is free, and is available to any juniors under 16 years of age. Anyone interested should contact Norman Lickley on 01943-884323.

The local rounds of the Yorkshire Crown Green Merit take place on Saturday, with one qualifier from Rufford, Pudsey and Pudsey Littlemoor. Start and scratch is 2pm.

At Rufford – Ian Shaw (Pudsey), Mick Smith (Pudsey), Gary Wike (Pudsey), Liam Griffin (Pudsey), Tony Riley (Brighouse Sports), Steven Gilroy (Pudsey Littlemoor), Paul Bowes (Pudsey Littlemoor), Craig Hebbard (Pudsey Littlemoor); Richard Hodgson (Pudsey).

At Pudsey – Paul Gill (Clayton), Stuart King (Pudsey Littlemoor), Brian Richards (Pudsey Littlemoor), Paul Jacques (Pudsey Littlemoor), Nigel Roper (Pudsey Littlemoor), Luke Thompson (Pudsey Littlemoor), Keith Hall (Eccleshill), Justin Holgate (Eccleshill), Kim Ramsden (Ladyhill), Andy Walker (Harold Park).

At Pudsey Littlemoor – Paul Hillam (Eccleshill), Andy Gilroy (Eccleshill), Nigel Breadley (Ladyhill), Stuart Hanson (Pudsey), Connor Davis (Pudsey), Stewart Watson (Pudsey), Danny Beardsworth (Pudsey), Hedley Kettlewell (Brighouse Sports), Andy Hodgson (Pudsey).