THE YORKSHIRE final of the E E Cockroft Handicap went down a treat at Cross Hills, although the wet and cold weather dampened some spirits.

The club did a tremendous job to stage the event and deserve a word of thanks. For the locals both Craig Smith and Derek Burgess lost in round two and Robbie Ellis reached the quarter-final and should have gone further.

Main hope Phillip Dowgill did best, reaching the semi-final only to lose 13-21 to county bowler Steven Haigh (Huddersfield) who showed top class form. It was an all-Huddersfield final with Haigh facing Craig Cant in a close game, which he won 21-18.

At the same time the Federation's Valley team had a resounding victory over Hebden Bridge, both at Steeton in the home leg and away at Luddendenfoot. At Steeton the locals made a slow start and suffered three defeats early on, however good wins by Tony Finn and Mick Bastow clinched the match.

The result was never in doubt at Luddendenfoot with only two losers and big wins for David Cadwallader, Scott Wilkins, Bryan Hamson 'Action man' Hewitt, J D Smith and captain Stephen Pickles, the Yorkshire Champion, who rounded off a good campaign by the Valley team.

The Yorkshire Champ will have to be top form on Sunday when he meets holder Jamie Cunningham in the popular Featherstone Trophy at Silsden Bowling Club. The event is run by Donald Varley and starts at 10am with Cunningham going for his hat-trick.

Draw - 10am: J Cunningham v S Pickles, M Barker v C Wortley, K Coppen v P Haworth, T Hargreaves v B Potts. 10.45: T Outhwaite v Mick Mitchell, A Downing v D Metcalfe, J R Smith v R Littlewood, K Wardley v M Spencer. 11.30: L Hubbuck v K Harrison, K Moore v 'Ma' Baker, A Welsh v P Bell, D Potts v Hewitt. 12.00: A Coppen v M Wood, B Harrison v R Buxton, P Finnie v G Bottomleysnr, W Wortley v L Jackson.

12.30: D Moore v B Rowan, D Carter v J Greenbank, I Pickles v C Harrison, L Carter v E Bland. 1.15: S Hardaker v C Bottomley jnr; J Holdsworth v J Ellis, M Anderesonj v T Harney, R Hargreaves v D Smith. 1.45: R Sanderon v L Buxton, H Shaw v R Baker, M Filding v C Cadwallader, P Haigh v J Hearne, T Fairclough v P Loftus.

Cross Roads A are champions again in both the Hebden Bridge and Valley League Division One. In the Valley Cross Roads B were second in Division One with Lund A and Highfield finishing at the bottom.

Sutton B won Division Two just ahead of Whins A while Whins B and Keighley were relegated.

The Handicap sections see victories for Bradshaw A (Division One), Sutton B competed a double by taking the Division Two championship and there was a tie between Haworth and Oakworth in Division Three.

Haworth had a good win in their final Bradford League game, but were unable to stave off relegation to Division Four. They defeated Drighlington 22-8, but they go down as well.

One of Oakworth's young stars of several years ago, John Greenwood has died suddenly at the age of 53.

"John gave up playing some time ago but he was a very useful player," said Roy Sanderson. "His greatest triumph was in the Foster Cup in 1971 when he defeated the late, legendary, Jack Horsfield on his own green 21-2 in the final."

Eddie Breen of Highfield has also passed away after a short illness. He held several posts in the Valley League when Jim Cormican was secretary.

Our condolences go to both families