THE Yorkshire Inter District Snooker League started at the weekend and Division One defending champions Bradford No1 hosted their No 2 counterparts at Undercliffe Cricket Club, with a mouthwatering opening match between eight-time Bradford champion Wayne Cooper and four-time winner Gareth Green.
Bradford No 2 won the Second Division title last season and started the match well, Green opening up a 52-point lead in the first frame, aided by a 31 break. Cooper then made a 54 break to edge in front and eventually took the first frame 69-52.
Cooper got away well in the second but this time Green fought back with a 33 break and took the spoils 72-48 to level the match.
No 1 captain Kevin Firth made a 33 break against an out of sorts Boover Singh on the way to a 53-27 success and backed it up with a 67-21 win in the second frame to put the hosts 3-1 up. Mark Slater was in good form in his first frame, a 32 break helping him to a 72-23 victory and a 4-1 lead for the No 1 team, but No 2 captain Hanif Rafiq rediscovered his touch in the final frame and potted consistently well, a break of 30 for a 76-13 win giving a final scoreline of 4-2 for the No1 team.
Bradford No 2 travel to Sheffield on Sunday while the No1 side are at Harrogate the following week.
The billiards team open their campaign this weekend, when they entertain Harrogate at Great Horton Cricket Club on Saturday (7.30). The team will be Stephen Kershaw, Paul Devitt and Steve Wilman.
The first round draws for the Bradford snooker singles and pairs were made at Undercliffe CC at the weekend and defending champion John Wellham (Allerton Cons) faces a tough start to the competition when he faces Richard Hagerty (Calverley Cons). Other ties are T Dawson v P Wood; P Hamilton v A Tipper; S Jackson v D Parker; M Yeadon v M Glen; H Mawson v P Goodall.
Pairs: M Slater & J Murgatroyd v J Walker & A Tipper; G & A Green v R Hagerty & R Beckford; D Slater & S Casey v H Mawson & L Walsh; D Bentley & P Hamilton v D Parker & M Glen.
All other players in both competitions receive a bye to the second round.
