A row is brewing in the Bradford Golf Union over two

disputed points which could have a say in who wins the coveted Scratch League title - and who is relegated.

Champions and leaders Northcliffe won 8-0 at struggling Calverley last month but the home club asked Union officials to investigate whether Northcliffe had flouted the rules.

The Union discussed the matter at their management meeting last week and decided they had - and deducted two points from Northcliffe which went to to Calverley.

But Northcliffe have appealed and a

further meeting will take place when they will state their case for hanging on to the points.

Baildon are looking closely at the

situation because they are just six points behind the leaders and have yet to play them at home.

And Calverley desperately need the two points to help them stave off relegation.

The alleged transgression happened before the Calverley-Northcliffe match took place. Team sheets are handed in simultaneously but it appears that ten minutes after that had happened, Northcliffe changed the team and put Andy Town in for an injured Mark Cook.

Northcliffe captain Peter Corry, who was absent for the game, said: "We are disgusted because the union are not

seeing common sense. If we are going to have to wait until all four players arrive before exchanging team sheets, we are not going to get teed off before six.

"I was away in Spain and the vice-

captain stood in. But the pro and the players already knew Mark was injured on Friday morning. Andy was going to support them anyway so he stood in for Mark. I mean, if all four players arrived on the Friday for the match and one got injured warming up - what would

happen then? They just do not seem to want to see reason.

"We have asked for a personal hearing. Their captain was playing for the 8-15s so he wanted to exchange sheets so he could get off and play. And my vice-

captain - that was the first time he had been involved - didn't know what the situation was.

"He wanted to wait and was pressured into exchanging teams early."

Whatever the outcome, it's looking very much like a two-horse race at the top of Division One after Baildon pulled off a marvellous 6-2 win at Shipley last week.

With leaders Northcliffe having a rest day, Ian Martin, Matt Roche and Dan Thomas were victorious for Baildon - a result that pushed Shipley down to fourth place behind Hollins Hall, who enjoyed victory over Keighley.

Tomorrow, Baildon host bottom club West Bradford and hope that Northcliffe will drop points at Keighley.

Baildon captain Danny Horton is

confident his team can regain the Scratch League title. "We feel we have a strong chance. We still have important home games to come and one of them is against Northcliffe next month," he said. "That will be a crucial match.

"A lot of clubs don't like playing at Baildon. The course is in immaculate condition this year - the greens are superb. But you still need to keep it straight."

He added: "We were pleased with our win last week at Shipley."

Baildon have Simon Bell at their club but the player has county commitments and is not a regular in the team. But Jamie Firth has returned from a spell abroad and has been in fine form.