LAST season's Clarkson Cup runners-up Sutton A reached the semi-finals of this year's competition with a big win over Broughton Road B.

Sutton A had to give 65 start to the Broughton Road B team and they never looked like losing the match which was played at Cononley.

Scott Bairstow 21-3, Gary Bowdin 21-4, Peter Hepworth 21-5, Kevin Mackie 21-7, Anthony Emmott 21-8 and David Cadwallader 21-9, proved to be too strong for the Roaders as they ran out 231-203 winners.

Gargrave A looked to have a tough task taking on Silsden in their match at Whinfield. It proved to be an even match with each team having five winners.

Gargrave’s best win came from B team stand in Brian Walker. He won his match 21-10 to complete a good week in which he also won 21-17 in the league at Cononley A.

Mattie Simpson 21-13 and Cliff Taylor 21-15 also produced good wins. Alan Thornber 21-8, Dave Smith 21-12 and Phil Hall 21-13 kept Silsden on track.

The 20-points handicap Gargrave received always had them in front, and they progressed 210-196.

A trip to Colne Legion to take on Keighley A looked daunting task for Devon A. The Skipton team received a handy 20 points and they made a good start as Robbie Ellis 21-9, Graham Perry 21-8 and a fine pull back by Nick Squires 20-21, gave them a good lead.

Phil Anderson 21-11, Len Buxton 21-10 and Chris Wilson 21-15 kept Keighley in touch. Three more wins for Devon including Dan Moore 21-8 saw them go well clear and finish with a 206-167 win.

The final quarter-final saw Silsden Playing Fields A have a very comfortable win over Sutton B. The B team had 45 points start, but being slightly under strength it was never enough.

Playing Fields had Richard Bloodworth 21-2, Chris Wilson 21-5 and Paul Bailey 21-6 among their nine winners, with just Dennis Wynn-Jones 21-19 winning for Sutton. The final score was 258-198.

There was a thrilling finish and a big upset in the the Supplementary Ambulance Cup as Whinfield A beat Crosshills A 211-210.

Division Two side Whinfield received 70 points at Rolls Royce and they got a great start as Brenda Heslop picked up a 21-16 win, while Tony Langstroth pushed Andrew Tate all the way before going down 21-18.

From then on it was all Crosshills who put in the winners as they pulled back the points. Whinfield stuck to their task, but it was getting close.

It could not get any closer as the final bowls saw Whinfield A get over the line by one point. Crosshills B did keep their club in the cup, as they went through at the expense of Lund Park A. Crosshills B had six winners with Christine Hasselby 21-7, Idris Wade and Derek Squires both 21-8, putting them in charge after three early winners for Lund Park as they ran out 236-213 winners. Broughton Road A took on league leaders Cononley A at Rolls Royce with a 45 points start.

The early wins went to Cononley but good scores and Tim Buck’s 21-20 kept Broughton Road in the game.

Ian Dewhurst 21-4 and Stuart Myers 21-5 put the game out of reach as Cononley finished with a 207-189 win.

The two C teams looking for a semi-final place met at Colne Cricket Club. Gargrave C were up against Sutton C.

Gargrave initially held on to their 15 point handicap advantage but the tie swung as wins from Andrew Cleminson 21-3 and Peter Duck 21-9 helped Gargrave to a 323-279.

The semi finals will take place next Thursday.

Clarkson Cup: Silsden PF A v Gargrave A, Sutton A v Devon A.

Supplementary Cup: Crosshills B v Gargrave C, Cononley A v Whinfield.

The Inter District Veterans take on Huddersfield this Friday, the home tie is at Craven with the away match at Crosland Moor.