CROSSHILLS stalwart Ken Brenkley took the honours in the season-opening Jeffrey Clark Spring Floodlight final at Lund Park on Thursday.

He defeated talented Craven 18-year-old Robbie Ellis 21-19 in a thrilling match played on a green which was quite wet after a heavy dew.

It was all level after six ends 7-7, Ellis then went 13-9 up, but three good ends from Brenkley saw him lead 14-13. Ellis then got the jack and put in what looked like being a match-winning break to lead 19-14.

Brenkley stopped the run with a single, and produced a classic finish with three doubles to take the title 21-19.

It was a fitting climax to a tournament that attracted a good entry of 62 in the qualifying rounds on the four Skipton greens last Tuesday night.

The Lund Park Club had the green in good condition and with extra lights fitted. Among the eight qualifiers was last season's winner Peter Clark from Devon, the competition's sponsor.

He faced a tough quarter final draw against Nigel Breadley from Silsden Playing Fields, who got the better of Richard Hargreaves in the qualifying round.

A tight match was level at 17-17 before Clark sealed his semi-final place with three good ends to go into the semi-final 21-17 up where he would face Brenkley, who had seen Cononley’s Stuart Myers 21-15.

Two more Cononley players made the last eight, with Steve Wood losing 21-14 and Jim Calvert going down 21-19 against Crosshills bowler David Brown.

Brenkley continued his good form in the semi-final as he raced into a 9-3 lead against Clark, five two’s in the first 12 ends saw Brenkley set up a 17-6 lead.

Clark was struggling to find his best form and though he pulled back a few points, Brenkley was certainly determined not to let his lead slip. He made sure of his final place with a 21-15 win.

Teenager Ellis has the makings of a top bowler. He puts in good leads which really test his opponent.

The semi-final proved that point as Brown was bowling well but could not get run with the jack and found himself trailing 19-9.

Brown dug in and pulled back some singles, but it was not enough as Ellis moved into the final 21-14.

All the local leagues got under way with the Worth Valley Veterans starting on Easter Monday, the Worth Valley and Aire Wharfe Leagues started last Saturday, while Skipton and District started on Tuesday.

Yorkshire Cup draw: Broughton Road v Marsh United (at Ackroyden Victoria), Cross Roads v Eccleshill (at Black Swan, Harrogate), Black Swan v Pudsey BC (at Crosshills).

Hutchinson Cup: Skipton Devon v Northowram (at Rufford Park), Crosshills v Lindley BC (at Northowram).

Settle v Saville Park (at Oxenhope (to be confirmed), Oxenhope – bye.