THE WORTH Valley League bowls season came to a soggy end with the Veterans League Cup finals at Lund Park, which were spoiled by the almost constant rain.

The main game for the Burgess Shield in Division One between Oxenhope and Broughton Road did not last too long as the Skipton team were totally overwhelmed by their opponents and showed why they could go down next year.

The Thornton Shield final in Division Two was also one-sided as Sutton A easily beat Oakworth, who displayed the form that could see them relegated.

The John Holmes Shield final in Division Three was played separately at Highfield due to Lund Park A being in the final itself. They lost without a winner to Gargrave B, although the margin was only six points.

Whins Wood A were the narrow winners of the Capstick Shield in the Division Four final where Cullingworth B were the unlucky losers, despite having two out of three winners. Only a good start of 25-6 from Harry Barnes and Roy Storton saved the day for Whins Wood.

In the final for the new Division Five, Gargrave C became the first winners of the as yet un-named trophy when they narrowly defeated Steeton C, despite a good effort by Janet Green and Jack Latta for the losers.

Sutton made it a double in the Aire-Wharfe League. After winning the league last week, they swept to an easy victory over a hapless Burley-in-Wharfedale team in the Jennings-Crackles Cup, where Sutton were given 15 points start. With five single-figure winners, the game at Myrtle Park was over before it had begun as Sutton ran riot!

Cononley have won the Bradford League’s Division Two title after only two seasons in this top-class association. Despite some recent blips on their travels, they clinched the title in fine style with big wins at home against nearest rivals Littlemoor A, who were also promoted, and Pudsey B. It could be an interesting season next year where the locals should be able to hold their own in the top flight, especially if their green runs better without all the rain.

Mark Dobson of Pudsey was the surprise but worthy winner of the Craven 32. He defeated Nigel Breadley from Bradford 21-5 in a rather one-sided game in Skipton on a great playing surface.

Losing in the semis were Richard Hargreaves and Matty Stewart, while also in the money were Ian Baxter, Danny Teale, Gary Foulkes and David Hemsley. A similar event is planned for October 23 at 10am.

Richard Hargreaves might have been suffering from fatigue as the previous evening he had retained the Old Town Doubles alongside his brother Neil. Last season they won the event with no double figure scores against them and they almost did it again. A 21-11 victory over Trevor and Keiran Bannister, of Heptonstall, in the final brought this enviable record to an end as once again they tore the opposition to shreds.

The Silsden Ladies are back in action this weekend when they play in the Yorkshire Ladies Top Team event at Heckmondwike at 10am. They will compete against seven other teams, including the favourites New Mill WMC, and will have to be in top form to succeed.