Nino Esposito bowled with flair and determination to lift the Horton Print-sponsored Hospital Handicap at Eccleshill, beating fellow Lister player Kevin Burrage in an entertaining final.

Those who braved the rain to support the tournament witnessed some excellent bowling.

Ladyhill's Jimmy Hearne was one of the few Premiership bowlers to make it through to the finals, and he was handed a tough opening game against Pudsey Ltd's in-form teenage sensation James Hanson.

The game was tight and could have gone either way and though Hearne got within two points of the finishing line, a couple of stray bowls were punished by Hanson as he did just enough to win the game 21-19, youth getting the better of experience on this occasion.

Burrage made his way through to the semis with a 21-13 win over Salts' Kenny Bedford.

Bedford had bowled superbly but Burrage was leading well and leaving little room.

The other quarter-finals were epics, with both games going right to the wire. Salts star John Preston had to be at his best to beat Spen Victoria's Rob Firth 21-20, and even though Esposito had no luck against Royd House's Alistair Whittaker, he managed to come from behind to sneak the game 21-20.

The semi-finals threw together Preston and Esposito, and on paper this should have been a real close game. Esposito seemed to be in a rush to avoid the rain, though, and bowled the corners supremely well, opening up an 18-5 lead.

Preston bowled very few bad woods and only found himself in that position due to the precise and consistant leading from Esposito.

The game finished 21-8 and Esposito moved through to the final.

The other semi was between Burrage and 14-year-old Hanson.

Hanson was probably favourite to go through before the match began, due to current form and the five-points handicap.

Both players produced some excellent bowls and the game was tied at 14-14. Hanson then found a green edge mark to his liking and went into an 18-14 lead, and looked to have the game sewn up at 20-16. Burrage never gave up though, and even though the fat lady was standing ready to sing, Burrage produced the winners when it mattered to get back to 20-20.

The deciding end went down to the last bowl with Hanson needing to get within a yard of the the block to win the game. Unfortunatly for him his wood pulled up short and Burrage took the game by the narrowest of margins.

It's been some years since the last all- Lister final, and even Jim Mellor was struggling to remember the last one.

Lister Park A team bowl in the Bartle League now, so for them to provide both the finalists is some achievement.

In the final there was a steady exchange of points for both players until Burrage lost the jack in a corner, and Esposito took advantage of the longer mark to open up a big lead.

Esposito bowled with determination and never looked like like being caught. As in previous games, there was never much room left for his opponent, and though Burrage was always there or thereabouts, Esposito was just too good on the day.

The Saturday leagues were affected by the Yorkshire Cup, with the action this week coming from the lower divisions.

Low Moor Harold played two games over the weekend in the Bartle League, and should be happy with the 39 points they collected. They lost 16-14 at Lister, who had Ray Charles in fine form winning 21-7 and Esposito 21-8, but Low Moor made home advantage count the following day with a 25-5 thrashing of Peel B. Stan Terry 21-4 and Chris Lee 21-6 ensured some valuable margin points in Low Moors's title push. Armley Cons bowler Anne Sweeney was a 21-1 winner in their game at home to Harold Park but Paul Arthurs has been in fantastic form all season and slipped in a 21-1 of his own as Armley strolled to an easy 27-3 win.

Stanningley as expected, scored heavily at home against Horton A. Steve Gardener was on top form for Stanningley with his 21-4, though there were also 21-6 wins for Don Shaw and Richard Hodgson. Horton lost 22-8.

Mike Holleran (21-6) helped Bradford Moor A to a narrow 17-13 win over West, and Steve Watson (21-7) was one of eight winners for Pudsey Britannia B, as they beat Shelf A away 24-6 in the Haigh League.

After last week's zero, West Bradford's Henry Lee showed a lot of character as he enjoyed a 21-16 win at Wyke, and helped his side to a 16-14 win.

Asa Briggs B posted nine winners in their 24-6 beating of Knowles B in the Riley League. Mark Hirst top-scored for the home side with a 21-7. Only Knowles' Joan Nichols managed to get to 21. Pat Sunderland was a 21-8 winner for Bramley Libs B as they edged Eccleshill C 16-14, and James Murgatroyd won 21-4 for Driglington A as they also won 16-14 at Crowghyll B.

Troydale had a good home win over Queensbury B. Les Law had come off an early 21-6 winner for Queensbury but Troydale's David Bolton replied with the same scoreline, Troydale hanging on for an 18-12 win.

In the Field Packaging League, Horton B had any early nerves settled with wins for Pat Cates 21-5 and Peter Higgins 21-9.

Eric Hargate pulled some points back for Pudsey Ltd C, winning 21-8, though the damage had already been done and Horton won the game 19-11.

Keith Oldroyd's 21-4 helped Peel C to a narrow 16-14 win at Cleckheaton Sports, and Donald Learoyd's 21-7 couldn't stop his Bailiff Bridge side slipping to a 17-13 defeat at Oakenshaw, for whom Eric Osborne was a 21-8 winner.

Salts B travelled to Shelf B and wins from Andrea Blenard (21-7) and Graham Hey (21-9) saw Salts win the game 18-12.

Leaders of the Mellor League Greengates B, came unstuck at West Bradford. Ronnie Bradley shocked his captain by handing him a winning card (21-5) for a change, though West Bradford came back with wins from Bob Hanson 21-9 and Brian Ingham 21-8 to beat the leaders 17-13.

Mohammed Rafiq proved to be the difference between Guisley C and his Lister side. Mohammed won his game 21-1 and Lister edged the game 18-12. Not many teams win at Asa Briggs, but Tyersal B did sneak a 16-14 victory.