THE Craven League Champions, Barrowford, are aiming to become the first Lancashire club to win Yorkshire's champion of champions competition.

They were in sparkling form when they entertained the York Senior League champions, Easingwold, at the Bull Holme ground, near Colne, on Sunday in the first round of the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy.

Winning the toss and electing to bat the homesters took the fight to their opponents and tucked into their bowling with relish. David Hartley and Ajmal Choudrhy got the innings off to a great start the former making 45. Choudrhy continued the fight and stroked a stylish 110 to go with Ratnesh Misra's 37 as the visitors bowling and fielding became wayward and ragged.

The innings closed on 254-5 after 50 overs. Knowledgeable spectators suggested that they should even have had 30 runs more.

A tidy opening spell by Glen and John Hargreaves set the platform for a keen defence of their score. At the halfway point the White Rose side were well behind the run rate required.

However, some lusty hitting and good running between the wickets threatened to take the game away from the Red Rose outfit. However, they rallied and dismissed the visitors for 211 in the 47th over.

John Hargreaves was miserly, finishing with 2-16. Farouk Shehzad took 3-47, Misra 2-27 and Glen Hargreaves 2-67.

The victory was the first by a Craven League side in the competition, at the fourth attempt.

Barrowford now meet the winners of the Fishlake (Pontefract CL) and Barwick in Elmet (Wetherby CL) in the second round.

n The four delayed first round ties were duly completed on Sunday and undoubtedly the performance of the day came from Glusburn's Alan Coney.

Playing at Park Field he scored a magnificent 138 as the homes ide walloped 280-9 against Denholme. The visitors managed 105 in reply as the venerable Richard Smith claimed 6-35.

Glusburn are at home to Chatburn in the next round after the Division Five side saw off the leaders of the third division, Thornton, by four wickets.

Playing in the Ribble Valley the visitors were restricted to 124 in their innings with James Cowgill top scoring with 41. The pick of the bowlers were Geoff Lambert with 4-20 and Chris Waddington 3-26. The home side lost six wickets reaching their target with Andy Lambert making 32no.

Sandy Lane were too strong for neighbours Wilsden winning by six wickets at Greenwood Park.

Gargrave rattled up 214-6 down at Airedale with Yousaf scoring 73 and Tom Campbell 40no. The Keighley side were then dismissed for 145, with Saleem taking a superb 7-31 as Nick Ahad top scored with 66.

Cowling Cup (1st Round): Wilsden II 102, *Sandy Lane II 106-4; *Glusburn 280-9, Denholme II 105; Thornton II 124, *Chatburn II 128-6; Gargrave II 214-6, Airedale II 145.