THE SEMI-FINALS of the Skipton team knockout cups, scheduled for July 9, have now been decided and will feature several Keighley area clubs.

In the Clarkson Cup, Sutton A take on Keighley A and Settle A face Silsden BC, while the Supplementary Cup features Gargrave A against Steeton A and Craven A versus Silsden Playing Fields A. Venues are to be announced.

Sutton A beat their B team by the narrow margin of two points at Rolls Royce, with only Peter Peacock winning for the B's, while Keighley A had a full house against Devon B at Cononley.

Silsden BC just held sway over Devon A on a slow green at Addingham, with Dennis Mackie helping to clinch the game for Silsden. The closest game was between Settle A and giant-killers Oakworth, who shared the winners at Cross Hills where the tie ended level, Settle going through by the toss of a coin for the extra point – before the game started. Paul Haigh’s 21-8 for the losers was not quite enough.

In the Supplementary Cup, Steeton A accounted for Division Two leaders Cross Hills B thanks to good wins by Martin Walsh and Graeme Seward, while Silsden Playing Fields A surprised Cononley A, with Andy Woolner clinching the tie late on.

There were mixed fortunes for local clubs in the Yorkshire ABA team events where Oxenhope were beaten by past winners Glasshoughton by over 70 points despite wins by Ronnie Bowdin, Tony Walton and Debbie Hosty in the Hutchinson Cup. Devon progressed to the last eight in the same event with a stop-start effort in the sun at Guiseley over Hove Edge WMC.

Cross Roads progressed to the last eight in the Henry Taylor Cup by comfortably beating West Bradford at Cranmore, with Neil Madden and David Cadwallader leading the way. Quarter-finals are on July 18.

It was a poor weekend for the local district and federation teams. In the Yorkshire ABA’s Veteran Inter-District League against Halifax, Skipton could only muster two winners at home at a slow and wet Sutton Park, those coming from Len Buxton and Derek Seed.

The away team fared little better at a running Elland WMC green, with Barry Turnbull and Cliff Taylor just sneaking home. Things must change tomorrow from 1.30pm as they host league leaders Bradford at Craven in the home match and away at Peel Park.

It was nearly as bad for Worth Valley’s Federation team as they were well beaten by North Yorkshire. To be fair, they tried hard in the home leg at Craven and actually won the game with seven winners, the best being Colin Wortley and Christine Hasselby, while Stuart McDonald recorded an excellent victory over his fancied opponent.

Sadly the away team had only one winner at Bilton WMC in Harrogate and that was coach Ken Brenkley. Overall, it was a defeat by 22-10, with one game left to play against South Lancashire on July 26. Not all the top players have been available and that is why they remain bottom.

Worth Valley/Skipton Juniors play Halifax B away on Saturday, while the Skipton Summer Doubles have hopefully been rescheduled for the same day. The Valley Merit is at Cullingworth on Sunday and draw details are available from Mick Demain.

The Yorkshire Parks Junior Handicap was won by Craven's Robbie Ellis at Thorner, where he defeated his junior county colleague Bailey Rice, of Ladyhill, 21-16.