SATURDAY sees the qualifying rounds in the Yorkshire ABA’s County Cups but only five local teams are in action.

In the Yorkshire Cup, Cross Roads meet Knaresborough BC at Horsforth Woodside while Broughton Road play Broad Oak at Hipperholme. First-round losers go into the supplementary event for the Henry Taylor Cup on May 14.

In the mixed event for the Eric Hutchinson Memorial Trophy, Settle play Almondbury BC C at the Shipley Club, Devon tackle Brockholes at Spen Victoria and Cross Hills are drawn to Magnet Sports, from Tadcaster, at Littlemoor SC. Oxenhope, winners of the Radley Trophy, receive a bye into the next round.

Sunday sees the semi-finals and final of the Hebden Bridge Sunday Morning KO at Todmorden Park, featuring favourites Cross Roads A, whose main challenge should come from old rivals Mytholmroyd Church Institute. Start time is 10am.

The Worth Valley’s Foster Cup is also scheduled for Sunday at Highfield but the low entry casts doubt on whether it will be held. Contact Mick Demain for further details.

Former Yorkshire Junior Robbie Ellis has made a good start to his senior career when he teamed up with his friend Ben Gloag from Houlsworth WMC in Cheshire to win the opening one-day doubles event at the Waterloo Hotel, Blackpool. They claimed some top scalps, including Bob Hitchin and James Hanson, in the semis and Simon Coupe and Owen Jackson in the final with a great 21-12 victory.

Robbie, who now plays for Skipton Devon, has also made a good start in the Skipton League – part of his transition to stardom!

The local juniors are back in action on Saturday night when they play Heavy Woollen A at Lund Park at 7pm.