THERE was a poor showing from the local contingent in the Yorkshire Parks Merit Finals at Hove Edge on Good Friday.

The wet conditions and lack of practice for some played a major part in this, an event won by the consistent Mark Regan, of Brighouse.

Richard Hargreaves did reach the last 16 without showing the ability that he possesses.

The new Hebden six-a-side league begins tomorrow with 12 teams competing in this new venture which will hopefully attract more players to the game as it is restricted to those with a personal handicap of four or above. Local teams involved are Oxenhope and Cross Roads who meet in the first match.

The Hebden Bridge Sunday Morning KO begins on Monday, April 9, with preliminary rounds for all teams with games for Cross ‘B’ v Old Town ‘A’, Cross ‘C’ v Todmorden Park, Oxenhope ‘B’ v Mytholmroyd ‘B’, Oxenhope ‘A’ v Mytholmroyd ‘D’, Cross ‘A’ v Heptonstall and Oakworth v Ripponden.

The next round for winners on Monday, April 16 and for first round losers who enter the Supplementary event. Finals at Tod Park on April 29.

The Aire-Wharfe Saturday League begins on Saturday with three local sides in Oxenhope, Sutton and Broughton Road still in League One chasing favourites Myrtle Park ‘A’ and Black Swan ‘A’ from Harrogate.

The Craven 32 re-scheduled from last month takes place on Sunday commencing at 10am, with what appears to be a much stronger field. Drawn on day.

Names: At 10am - T Cater, D Poole, D Cadwallader, G Stockhill, L Foster, S Whitaker, D Hodgson and J Teale.

At 10.45am - J Stockdale, J Worsnop, P Hillam, M Duke, V Pickersgill, P Wellam, M Sweeney and D Hemsley.

At 11.15am - L Teale, AW Riley, B Robinson, T Hargreaves, D Ashworth, A Buckley, D Rowson and B Turnbull.

At 11.45am - D Teale, A Tate, D Towning, P Worsnop, A Gallagher, J Steadman, A Varley and J Benson.

The Skipton League itself begins on April 10 with Tuesday games featuring the 54321 League and Thursday matches concerned with the Merit League. No doubt all the top sides will be well to the fore in both.