Two major Yorkshire ABA finals were completed last weekend, with local interest maintained in both up to the latter stages.

On Monday, Phil Dowgill, of Cross Hills, tried to emulate his success in last year’s Yorkshire Merit semi-final but, after two great wins, he was well beaten by Meltham’s Ashley Daykin in the last eight at Elland C&BC.

His efforts have not gone unnoticed as this Sunday he makes his Yorkshire debut in the away match at Stockton Heath against Lanc-ashire.

Dowgill had qualified after beating rising star Robbie Ellis at Broughton, while the other local to get through was Nigel Breadley, of Silsden Playing Fields, who exited the event early.

Cath Rushton, of Gargrave and Silsden Ladies, reached the last four of the Merit finals in the Harrogate area on Sunday.

Most action was focused on the Bil-ton Dragon green, where rain affected the conditions throughout the day.

That did not deter Rushton, who showed improved form to reach the semi-final before losing to eventual winner Dawn Bray, of Wakefield, 21-19.

Also in good form were Brough-ton Road’s Jim Acrid and Daryll Gore, who won the Skipton Spring Doubles at Sutton Park. They beat Ian Bernard, of Silsden, and Matty Simpson, of Gargrave, 15-9.

Losing in the semi-finals were Leeming and Seed, from Settle, and past winners Paul Kaye and Breadley.

The good news continues for the Worth Valley’s Over-60 team in the Federation League at East End Park, where they easily disposed of past winners Barnsley 9-1 and a poor Doncaster B team 10-0.

The two Micks, Bastow and Hig-son, starred against Barnsley, while four single-figure wins saw off Doncaster. The team play next on June 20.

News was not so good for the Hebden Bridge team in the annual Yorkshire Parks Inter-City event held in the Leeds area. An understrength side beat Leeds Ladies at Garforth Rec, despite having three losers, before being well beaten by eventual winners Leeds at Cross-gates.

The Skipton Inter-District Vet-erans are back in action tomorrow, meeting Wakefield with the home leg at Silsden PF (1.30pm). The away team travel to the difficult Horbury WMC.

The Shipley Classic also reaches Round Three tomorrow night (6.30), as does the Yorkshire Parks Broth-erton Cup in which there are games for Cross Roads A (v Royd House at Baildon), Cross Roads B (v West Bradford at Pudsey BC) and Oxen-hope (v Clayton at Rufford Park).