THERE was good news for bowlers when both Cross Roads and Broughton Road qualified for the semi-finals of the Yorkshire ABA events on August 3.

In the premier event for the Yorkshire Cup itself, Cross Roads produced a great effort to defeat previous winners and runners-up, Brighouse, at Marsh United, Huddersfield, in a game where they recorded seven winners and won by 12 points.

There were several close games in both victories and defeats, but the greatest performance came from skipper Neil Hargreaves, who returned a fantastic 21-7 card. Pudsey Ltd are their semi-final opponents.

Meanwhile, at Hillcrest, Broughton made a dreadful start in the Hutchinson Trophy semi against Denby Grange in the mixed team event semi and after four jacks, trailed by almost 40 points.

A great comeback led by Danny Moore’s 21-9 and a change of fortune for Kevin Burnett, earned them a 20-point success and silenced their opponents. They now meet Brighouse B in their semi.

It was not such a good day for the Skipton Vets. team in the annual Hickson Trophy held recently in Barnsley.

In game one, they comfortably beat Castleford at Dodworth with eight winners and where a whirlwind start ended their opponents hopes.

Good wins by Trevor Hargreaves, Derek Seed and Kevin Burnett set them on their way and this was supplemented by useful efforts by Alden Phillips and David Hemsley.

They then travelled to Worsboroughdale for a semi against old rivals Bradford but were well beaten despite some close games.

Only Seed and Hemsley recorded wins. While they headed home, Bradford had for a big final defeat at Barnsley BC by the local team.

The semi-finals of the Skipton team K/O events take place on July 25. In the Clarkson Cup, Devon A play Colne CC at Settle, while Gargrave A play Sutton A at Broughton Road.

In the Supplementary event, Whinfield A meet SPF B at Addingham and favourites Cononley A play Steeton B at Oakworth. Finals on September 5.

Devon A were grateful for big wins by Danny Moore and Robbie Ellis to beat SPF A, while Colne CC demolished Sutton B.

Gargrave A had plenty in hand to defeat Keighley B, for whom Geoff Perkins was the sole winner, while Sutton hung on to beat Keighley A on a poor Lund Park where a late win by David Cadwallader clinched a match that could have gone either way.

In the Supplementary Cup, Whinfield A beat Settle A thanks to good wins by Brian Perry and Derek Squires.

Margaret Slater and Mick O’Neill were big winners as SPF B beat Whinfield B, while Cononley A accounted for Crosshills A with three big winners.

They now meet Steeton B, who beat a poor Keighley C team with several single figure winners.

The Valley Handicap was successfully concluded on Sunday at Cross Roads where the league secretary, Mick Demain, took the honours beating his Craven club-mate Catherine Leghe in the final 21-14.

Losing semi-finalists were Ian Shepherd and David Hemsley. In the Supplementary event, Leonard Buxton Junior, of Highfield, comfortably defeated John Callanan of SPF 21-12 while losing in the semis were Bev Guffick and Caroline Rhodes.

The Skipton Vets Inter-District game for July 26 has been cancelled until a new date can be agreed

The main event this weekend is the Aire-Wharfe John Rycroft Trophy at Broughton Road on Sunday.