Right on Cue

Bradford No 1's snooker players saw their YORKSHIRE INTER-DISTRICT LEAGUE season tail off in disappointing fashion after letting a 3-0 lead slip against Harrogate to draw 3-3 at Undercliffe Cricket Club.

Second-placed Bradford took on Harrogate, who were third, knowing that only a 6-0 win would give them a chance of retaining the title, although they still needed leaders Sheffield No 3 to suffer a similar whitewash.

To make matters worse, fourth-placed Castleford No 1 enjoyed a 6-0 victory of their own to steal second position, leaving Bradford a point behind in third.

Wayne Cooper had got Bradford off to the perfect start, making a 45 break on the way to winning the first frame 69-26.

Opponent Gyles Behbood started the second frame in fine style, making a break of 49, but Cooper responded with a 56 and eventually took it 74-53 on the blue and pink.

Mark Slater also looked in good form, rattling in a rapid break of 38 in beating Callum Waite 68-5, but then word came through that Sheffield were two frames up and everything went downhill.

Waite found his form in frame four and a break of 32 helped pull one back for the visitors 73-35.

Captain Kevin Firth brought up the rear for Bradford but he was unusually out of sorts, although he had played all day in the English Six Reds Championship at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds where he lost in the semi-finals to John Ashley.

Harrogate’s Kevin Robinson mixed good fortune with clinical finishing and was a deserved winner, taking the first frame 61-23 and the last 74-68 to tie the match.

* The second BRADFORD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP singles semi-final between defending champion Gareth Green (Lifeline Leisure) and Damian Wilks (Wibsey Cons) takes place at Eccleshill Victoria Cons on Wednesday (7.45pm).

Also next week, the pairs semi-final between defending champions Wayne Cooper and Lee Atkinson (Laisterdyke Cricket) and Green alongside brother Anthony (Lifeline Leisure) will be hosted by Great Horton Conservative Club on Tuesday (7.30pm).

* The second legs of the latest HEY’S TROPHY and HOPKINSON PLATE matches are being played tonight.

Undercliffe Cricket A are at home to Northcote Cons in the Hey’s, with Harold Club A taking on Bradford Irish Club.

And in the Hopkinson, Laisterdyke WMC A play Eccleshill Victoria Cons A and Salthorn WMC host Wibsey Liberals A.