SKIPTON Devonshire defeated Brighouse Sports to move into the semi-final of the Yorkshire County Hutchinson Cup, after a closely-fought contest at Crowghyll Park, Shipley.

The first four games were shared with the highlight being a good win from Dave Smith 21-10 accompanied by a 21-18 success for Graham Perry, leaving the scores level.

A super win by Faye Ellis in the second four 21-8, together with another 21-8 triumph by Martin Lee, gave Devon an advantage they never relinquished. A good fighting comeback by Joanne Ellis, who won 21-20, consolidated by skipper Richard Baker’s 21-16 victory, saw Devon squeeze home 215-206 with six winners apiece. They now play top Yorkshire side Pudsey in the semi-final on Saturday, August 1.

The Skipton Inter-District Veterans match against Castleford resulted in a win for Skipton by 29-27. The home team, playing at Craven, excelled once again, beating the opposition by six winners to two and 21 points to seven. Best winners were Cliff Taylor (21-8), Kevin Burnett (21-10) and Leonard Buxton (21-10).

In sharp contrast the away team, playing on a notoriously difficult green at Pontefract BC, lost by six winners to two and 20 points to eight. The two winners were Trevor Hargreaves 21-9 and John Parkin 21-19. This result leaves Skipton in fourth position with one match to go against Wakefield on Friday, July 31.

The Yorkshire County Inter District competition takes place on Sunday (start 10am) at Crowghyll Park. Skipton's first game is against Castleford, with the losers playing Aire & Wharfedale.

Skipton squad: A Tate, D Scott, P Dowgill, G Reay, R Scarr, R Hargreaves, P Clark, L Foster, C Wilson (Keighley), D Smith, S Bairstow, R Dunhill.

The Clarkson Cup final between Sutton A (45) and Settle A (60) will be held at Skipton Devonshire, while the Supplementary Ambulance Cup final featuring Gargrave A (45) v Craven A (30) will be at Colne Legion. Both take place next Thursday, starting at 7pm.

The Walker Foster Division One is looking very tight with only eight points separating the top four teams and just six games to go.

Keighley A and Colne Cricket Club produced two wins each, while Cononley A and Cross Hills A both suffered a defeat. Cononley A are at present leading with 186 points, though they had a slip-up after a 9-3 home win over Gargrave A, going down to an 8-4 defeat at Devon A.

Colne Cricket Club produced two good results with a home win over Cross Hills A 9-3, in which Hills bowler Philip Dowgill stopped Barry Driver's unbeaten run with an excellent 21-13 win. They then travelled to Gargrave A and came away with an 8-4 win to leave them on 185, one point behind Cononley.

Cross Hills A had the defeat at Colne but recovered with a 10-2 home win over Broughton Road A to reach 181 points. Keighley A made most headway with a 11-1 home win over Settle A, then picking up a very good 10-2 win at Sutton A to close in fourth place with 178 points.

Silsden enjoyed two big wins – away at Colne Legion A 9-3 and a 12-0 home win over Devon B, which leaves them on 173 points but they have played a game more.

Cross Hills B continue to lead the Andrew Town Joinery Division Two. With two away games, they still stretched their lead to 22 points.

First they went to Lund Park B and came away with a 10-2 win before losing at Gargrave B 8-4, which left them with 170 points from 22 games.

Rolls Royce moved into second on 148 points. After a bad loss at Addingham 11-1, where Rolls Royce’s Steve Hounslow lost his unbeaten record to Ted Wray 21-19, they won 9-3 at Colne Legion B.

Steeton A (146 points) drew 6-6 at home to Cononley B, while Colne Legion B also lost away at Silsden PF B 8-4, leaving them in fourth with 145 points. Cononley B enjoyed an 8-4 home win over Whinfield B to give them 143 points. Oakworth won 8-4 at home to Addingham A to leave them on 137 points but with games in hand.

Sutton B look well in command of the Skipton Building Society Division Three after a 10-0 home win over Silsden PF C. They have 164 points from 21 games. Second are Settle B on 150 points from 22 games – they won 8-4 at home to Steeton B but then went down 6-4 at Keighley C.

Craven B are third with 143 points after winning 7-3 at Addingham B, while Grassington are fourth with 141 points after winning 7-3 at home against Steeton B.

The JACS League Merit qualifying round will take place tonight (start 6.45pm).

Draw, Keighley: O Burnett, A Keighley, A Phillips, Mick Cox, N Breadley, A Uttley, D Metcalfe, D Seed, P Haworth, I Bernard. Silsden Playing Fields: M Claxton, W G Burnett, M Bastow, D Hemsley, Martyn Cox, S MacDonald, R Hargreaves, M Adams, C Smales, C Wortley, M Loftus. Lund Park Top: K R Burnett, M Duke, A Byrnes, J Parkin, G Perry, A Thornber, C Wilson (Kei), P Anderson, D Scott, D Mackie, P Hayton. Lund Park Bottom: L Buxton snr, V Abell, A Tate, D Leeming, P Clark, D Jacques, P Drinkall, W R Burnett, B Turnbull, S Myers, P Hall.