HERMITS N are the cellar dwellers in Division 3B of the Bradford League, having lost all 12 of their matches in the first half of the season.

Since the midway split, they had managed just one win – so a trip to third-placed Baildon D, who were unbeaten at home this half, seemed an unlikely place to collect victory number two.

Baildon led 2-0 and 3-2 through Allen Pollard (2) and Kevin Flaherty but Hermits responded as Joe Healey and Sid Ulph both won twice.

Philip Craven won the battle of the No 3s against Alan Towriss to leave Hermits in sight of victory at 5-3 up.

Pollard completed his treble in the last singles and the deciding doubles could not have been closer, Healey and Ulph securing the elusive win with a 13-11 fifth-game success against Pollard and Flaherty.

In Division 3A, Baildon A are out of sight at the top and recorded win number 20 at Unity E, although the home side proved stubborn opposition.

Unity were 2-1 up as Hughie Chambers and Michael Walker had wins over David Thomas and Shirley Toulmin, after Peter Warner had taken the opener for Baildon.

The champions then moved through the gears as they motored into a 5-2 lead – but the last two singles could have gone either way, Baildon taking them both as Warner pipped Walker 11-9 in the fifth game and Thomas came from behind to foil Jackson 11-8 in the decider as Baildon ran out 7-3 winners.

Division 1A: Dewsbury Sedbergh 4 Embassy Police A 6, Unity A 3 Dewsbury Sedbergh 7, Yeadon A 8 Hermits A 2, Highdale A 7 Unity A 3. Division 1B: Embassy Police B 5 Hermits C 5, Unity C 5 Yeadon B 5, Unity B 4 Hermits B 6, Pudsey A 6 Hermits C 4, Embassy Police B 9 Unity C 1. Division 2A: Fastbats A 4 Hermits D 6, Embassy Police C 10 Hermits E 0, Highdale B 10 Unity D 0, Fastbats A 8 Highdale B 2, Hermits E 1 Hermits D 9. Division 2B: Fastbats C 6 Pudsey B 4, Rastrick 5 Hermits F 5, Hermits I 1 Hermits G 9, Hermits F 6 Pudsey B 4, Hermits H 7 Rastrick 3. Division 3A: Hermits K 1 Hermits J 9, Baildon A 7 Baildon B 3, Unity E 3 Baildon A 7. Division 3B: Fastbats D 6 Thornbury 4, Fastbats E 5 Hermits L 5, Baildon D 5 Fastbats D 5, Thornbury 3 Fastbats E 7, Hermits N 3 Hermits M 7, Baildon D 4 Hermits N 6, Hermits M 3 Hermits L 7.

Burton Cup semi-final draw: Yeadon A v Dewsbury Tog, Embassy Police A v Hermits A. Tony Theobould Trophy semi-final draw: Unity E v Baildon C, Baildon A v Hermits L.