THE Clarkson Cup qualifying round saw plenty of close games, with Cononley A the biggest scalp to fall.

They went out to Second Division Oakworth, who received a 70-point handicap in their tie at Steeton.

Cononley had eight winners but the Oakworth team produced good scores, then the final games saw Paul Haigh (21-18) and Nigel Graham (21-17) produce good wins for Oakworth to send them through 217-203.

Craven A met Second Division Rolls Royce at Grassington, where the works team received a 40-point start.

Craven were soon on a roll, pulling back the handicap with five winners in the first seven games, led by Stuart Wrigley (21-6). Steve Hounslow (21-11) put in a good score for Rolls, before the final three games went to the Second Division side, with skipper Steven Naylor (21-11) the final score to settle the match 216-206.

Silsden PFA travelled to Oakworth to meet Keighley B, with the Second Division side receiving a 30-point start. The Keighley B side produced a top-quality performance with six winners, including Paul McHale (21-7), George Hutson and June Wilson (both 21-10). Big wins for Silsden late on could only reduce the arrears as Keighley B romped through 243-201.

Two all First Division clashes saw Sutton A take on Gargrave A at Addingham, with both teams off 45. It was a close match, with both teams having four winners in the first eight games, but David Cadwallader (21-9) gave Sutton the advantage.

The final two games saw Sutton prove too strong, as Sean Birch (21-16) and Steven Brown (21-9) wrapped up the match 227-205.

Rolls Royce was the venue for the other all First Division clash, as Broughton Road A (receiving a ten-point handicap) took on Colne Legion A.

There were three single-figure wins in the first three games for Colne, but the Roaders had Colin Hodgson (21-5) and Arnie Ripley (21-6) in form and they did not let it slip with six winners and a final score 234-211.

There was some other close matches as Crosshills C just got the better of Grassington 293-288, the last three winners going to Crosshills (Sue Dowgill 21-19, Mick Winnery 21-20 and Brian Riddiough 21-20). Keighley A needed all ten winners for them to have just four points to spare as they beat Cononley B 215-211, while Crosshills A had the same margin win against Colne Legion B, with David Rankin recording a 21-1 win in a 201-197 success.

Addingham A pushed Devon A even closer with just a three-point win for the First Division side, 223-220. John Squires' 21-4 win for Devon was desperately needed, as Ted Wray (21-11) and Shane Beaumont (21-14) nearly got Addingham through.

Five First Division teams take part in the supplementary Ambulance Cup.

Qualifying round: Devonshire B 239, Cross Hills B 224; Cross Hills A 201, Colne Legion B 197; Whinfield B 182, Silsden 225; Devonshire A 223, Addingham A 220; Gargrave A 205, Sutton A 227; Whinfield A 287, Keighley C 232; Cononley A 203, Oakworth 217; Cononley B 211, Keighley A 215; Silsden PF B 247, Sutton B 261; Lund Park A 253, Lund Park B 234; Rolls Royce 216, Craven A 206; Keighley B 243, Silsden PFA 201; Grassington 288, Cross Hills C 293; Colne 234, Gargrave B 201; Steeton A 227, Settle A 249; Colne Legion A 211, Broughton Road A 234.

The Veterans Inter District team take on Leeds this Friday, starting at 1.30pm. The home team match will once again be at Sutton Park, with the team as follows: D Seed, M Duke, A Keighley, B Gore, K Burnett, D Jacques, L Buxton, M Demain. The away match will be at Scatcherd Park, with the team: K Brenkley, T Hargreaves, J Parkin, B Turnbull, W Hardwick, C Taylor, D Hemsley, A Pennington.

The Yorkshire Merit qualifying round will be at Broughton Road on Friday, May 22, 6.30 pm start.

Skipton and District Bowling League (Tuesday, May 12) – Division One: Colne Legion A 7, Colne 5; Devonshire B 8, Lund Park A 4; Keighley A 11, Gargrave A 1; Settle A 4, Cononley A 8; Silsden 6, Cross Hills A 6; Silsden PF A 8, Devonshire A 4; Sutton A 7, Craven A 5. Division Two: Cononley B 8, Keighley B 4; Cross Hills B 11, Silsden PF B 1; Gargrave B 6, Whinfield A 6; Lund Park B 3, Oakworth 9; Steeton A 9, Rolls Royce 3; Whinfield B 5, Colne Legion B 7. Division Three: Addingham B 7, Keighley C 3; Broughton Road B 2, Settle B 8; Craven B 6, Grassington 4.

(Wednesday, May 13) Division Three: Cross Hills C 8, Silsden PF C 2; Steeton C 0, Sutton B 10; Whinfield C 0, Steeton B 10.

Thursday, May 14