PETER Walsh, a member of a well-known bowling family from Cross Roads, registered his second Foster Cup Handicap title at Highfield in the first Worth Valley competition of the season.

In an excellent final, he hung on to defeat Warren Burnett Junior of Whinfield 21-17. Losing in the semis were Christine Hasselby and favourite Len Buxton of the home club.

The Hebden Bridge Sunday Morning KO has reached the semi-final stage with both Oakworth and Oxenhope representing the area on Sunday (10am) at Todmorden Park. Both teams had narrow wins over Sowerby and Saville respectively, while hot favourites Cross Roads A went out to lowly Old Town B despite having only one loser in this handicap event.

Qualifying for the Yorkshire and Hutchinson Cups, the latter for mixed teams, takes place on Saturday. All losing teams go into the supplementary events. In the Yorkshire Cup, Cross Roads face a difficult game against Eccleshill in Harrogate while Broughton Road meet Marsh Utd at Akroyden Vic and Cononley meet Springwood at Hanging Heaton.

In the Hutchinson competition, Oxenhope receive a bye following their success a couple of years ago while Devon play Northowram at Rufford Park, Cross Hills face Lindley BC at Northowram and Settle meet Saville Park at Castleford. Next rounds are on May 9.

There are county and district games on Sunday throughout Yorkshire but the only game directly involving this area is the Federation match between the Worth Valley and Leeds B in Division Five. Both teams came up last year and met in a very noisy and ill-mannered game at Rothwell in the away match. Let us hope for better behaviour this weekend, both at Broughton Road and away at Castleford Town. Games start at 2pm.

Team regular Viv Abell, of Craven, is absent as she has been chosen for the Yorkshire Ladies ABA match against The Wirral at Heswall RBL.

There was sad news for two local sides with the recent deaths of former players. Christine McLeod was a popular member of Cross Hills while Oakworth’s Eddie Barnes was well known in local bowling circles and enjoyed following the vets team. Condolences go to all concerned.