GARGRAVE’S 40-year wait to win the Clarkson Cup continues after Devon A recovered from a bad start to beat them 210-197 in Thursday's final.

They must have thought it was going to be their day as they started with three winners in the first four games and turned their 15-point handicap advantage into a lead of 31.

Ian Wallbank made a big recovery from 10-5 down to win 21-13 against Graham Perry, Cliff Taylor was always in charge of his game and ran out a 21-12 winner over Danny Moore, while Cath Rushton got the better of a close game with Nick Squires to win 21-18.

The only light on the horizon for Devon was stand-in skipper Richard Perry’s performance against Martyn Cox. He took the last three ends for a 21-17 win.

Devon A needed a good performance from the middle order and they answered the call. Les Foster was in blistering form. He scored ten points without reply to lead 13-3 before eventually winning

21-9.

Martin Lee was in determined mood and soon had Keith Moore in big trouble as he led 15-0. Moore did recover a bit of pride to get back to 21-7.

Devon were back in the match and Kevin Burnett carried on the good work with a 21-13 win over Martin Foulds.

Faye Ellis, who made sure the Ellis family was represented as Devon talisman Robbie was unavailable, was not overawed by the occasion. She put up a great performance to win 21-18 against Mick Cox.

Her win meant Devon had a six-point advantage. Paul Drinkall needed a good win for Gargrave and was looking like delivering as he got into a commanding 18-8 lead over Peter Haworth.

Stephen Lofthouse and Chris Smales were level at 5-5, but Lofthouse got in control to lead 15-5 which was cancelling out Drinkall’s big lead.

Points where then gained by Haworth to ease the Devon nerves. Lofthouse completed a good performance with a 21-9 win, while Paul Drinkall got a consolation 21-16 win for Gargrave.

The final result was a deserved win for Devon A with a 210-197 victory, Alister Keighley had to change rolls from Gargrave skipper and take up his role as League President, to present the Trophy to Richard Baker and Richard Perry.

The supplementary Ambulance Cup final at Silsden was a real cliff hanger as Crosshills B just got the better of Whinfield A 224-223.

The match was a gripping affair with Crosshills' Christine Hasselby and Rebecca Seward both winning convincingly 21-6 in the first four games to wipe out the handicap.

The match swung in Whinfield’s favour as Brenda Heslop 21-14 and David Hudson 21-12 completed the first four games, and Phillip Dunderdale put in a good start for the middle four with a 21-7 win.

A sterling performance Crosshills C teamer Phil Hudson saw him secure a 21-12 win. A 21-5 win for Idris Wade 21-5 meant Crosshills led by ten points.

Derek Squires won 21-14 to leave the last two Crosshills players needing 26 to win the match. It was tension all the way for both teams.

Keith Rayner was doing well for Whinfield against Peter Dowgill, while Crosshills Chris Hasselby was in a close match with Gary Hodge.

It was the Crosshills pair who got the points required as Gary Hodge won 21-16 while Keith Rayner's 21-10 for Whinfield was just not enough as Crosshills picked up the trophy.

The Skipton Inter District Veterans completed their season with a big win over Wakefield. The home team did well at Sutton with seven winners.

The best were Brian Farrage 21-6 and Wade 21-8. Tony Langstroth, who had suffered a heavy defeat for Whinfield A in the final the night before, recovered his composure to make a winning 21-18 debut for the veterans.

The result at home was a 24-4 win. The away team had five winners and won 17-11 to secure a 41-15 overall victory.