SKIPTON Ladies were beaten in the semi-finals of the annual Yorkshire County Bowling Ladies Inter-District competition held in the Aire-Wharfe area.

They began the day with an easy 40-point victory over the West Riding area at Burley-in-Wharfedale, this after their opponents had been well beaten by the other group team, Castleford.

The Skipton Ladies performed quite well on a poor surface and had seven winners.

Viv Abell and Pauline Lightowler impressed with 21-5 wins.

It was a different game against Castleford, who have quite a strong team.

The Skipton Ladies did well to win by five points, both sides having five winners.

Debutante Rosie Southworth won 21-7, while other winners were Liz Bland, Christine Hasselby, Claire Russell and Muriel Baker.

The semi-final was held at Rawdon Park on a larger and slower green against Bradford.

Their opponents started off in great form and although the Skipton team tried hard, they lost by 14 points.

They were well beaten by then and only returned four winners in Christine Hasselby, Pauline Lightowler, Cathy Rushton and Rosie Southworth.

The team were not at their best all day as fatigue took it’s toll. Only Hasselby won all her games, while Southworth won both hers.

In the final at Rufford Park, Bradford were no match for Huddersfield side.

The Inter District men's veterans take on Leeds tomorrow with the home match at Sutton Park start 1.30 pm.

The home team is: D Seed, M Duke, B Farrage, D Jacques, T Langstroth, M Claxton, A Downing, C Taylor.

The away match is at Western Flatts Leeds.

The Skipton and District Veterans Handicap qualifying round will be on Friday, July 7, start 1.30pm. Contact Peter Haworth to enter.

Colne Cricket Club picked up a 7-5 win at Silsden to extend their lead to seven points at the top of the JACS Merit League Division One, second placed Cononley A went down to defeat at Devon A 8-4.

Third-placed Keighley A closed the gap to two points with an 11-1 win at home to Broughton Road. Division Two leaders Colne Legion A suffered their first defeat, when they lost at second-placed team Silsden PF A.

The winners where shared 5-5 but the aggregate was comfortably won by Playing Fields to give them a 7-5 win to close the gap on the leaders to six points. Third Division leaders Keighley B also suffered in a close match at Broughton Road B, the result going the way of the home side 7-5.

Rolls Royce were also on the road but picked up a valuable 7-5 win at Lund Park B, to close to within three points of the leaders.

Third-placed Whinfield A played their B team winning 8-4 to keep them in touch with the top two, just six points adrift.

The fourth division has new leaders in Craven who had two matches last week. They began with an 8-2 home win to Crosshills C, but then they lost their unbeaten record, when they crashed to a 7-3 loss at Settle B.

Steeton B once could not respond as they also went down to a 7-3 defeat at Silsden PF C.

In the Walker Foster 54321 League Division One leaders Keighley A extended their lead to 32 points with a 41-31 home win over second-placed Devon A. Third-placed Cononley A went down to a 44-32 defeat at Broughton Road A.

Second Division leaders Colne legion A produced a good win away at Sutton B 41-38, while second-placed Lund Park A were in top form with a 47-27 home win over Gargrave B.

Third Division leaders Rolls Royce had away day blues, as they suffered their first defeat at Grassington 37-30.

Second-placed Keighley B closed the gap with a maximum points haul away at Whinfield B 51-21.

The Summer Doubles will take place at Silsden Playing Fields this Sunday at 1.30 pm.