ELLAND WMC still have work to do if they are to win the Collett Halifax League title for a fourth year in a row.
Adrian Brier's side looked to be cruising to success when they made it 14 wins out of 15 in Division One this season with an 8-4 home success over former champs Crossroads 10 days ago.
However, the Keighley outfit turned the tables in the return mat
ch on Wednesday night with a 9-3 success which included a rare defeat for Peter Craig by Mick Walsh.
Martins Griffiths, Mike Holden and John Davies were the only winners for the visitors who saw their lead at the top cut to 18 points with six matches left.
Elland remain hot favourites, however, because they face lowly Luddenden Foot in back to back fixtures over the next fortnight while second placed Clayton take on third placed Crossroads.
Elland then meet Clayton - their opponents in last night's Rose Bowl final - for two matches before completing their programme with fixtures against Greetland. Clayton also have to face mid-table Mytholmroyd WM while Crossroads last two opponents are Asa Briggs and Luddenden Foot.
HALIFAX lost in the semi-finals of the Yorkshire Inter-District one-day event held on greens in the Skipton area.
After getting the better of Aire/Wharfe by just one chalk in their opening contest, they beat the same foes more handsomely in their second match before being unable to fully recover from a poor start against West Riding.
SCORES (Halifax names first) - first round: Halifax 175, Aire/Wharfe 174, A.Brier 21 D.Lowe 14, R.Hobson 19 A.Durkin 21, B.Megson 21 D.Norris 14, S.King 21 C.Barry 14, A.Kenyon 21 C.Lodge 11, G.Bradford 13 G.Whelan 21, P.Smyth 21 D.Green 16, P.Chalkley 9 D.Kirkbright 21, S.Leeming 14 A.Briggs 21, M.regan 15 M.Hall 21.
Second round: Halifax 201, Aire/Wharfe 152, S.King 21 D.Lowe 18, B.Megson 21 A.Durkin 7, A.Kenyon 21 D.Norris 14, A.Brier 21 G.Barry 8, R.Hobson 21 C.Lodge 11, P.Smyth 21 G.Whelan 20, S.Leeming 21 D.Lee 14, M.Regan 21 D.Kirkbright 18, P.Chalkley 17 A.Briggs 21, G.Bradford 16 M.Hall 21.
Semi-final: Halifax 174, West Riding 194, B.Megson 17 M.Bramall 21, R.Hobson 7 R.Brook 21, A.Brier 19 G.Hirst 21, S.King 21 M.Sweenney 13, G.Bradford 21 D.Reeves 20, A.Kenyon 21 S.Pinfield 17, P.Smyth 21 G.Higgins 19, P.Chalkley 21 R.Mosley 20, S.Leeming 9 C.Blakely 21, M.Regan 17 J.Hopkinson 21.
THE qualifying round of the Halifax League's Veterans Pairs, sponsored by Robertshaws Electrical Appliances, is on Tuesday (1.30).
At Luddenden Foot: S. Andrews/N. Riley; L. Holmes/R. Nicholson; D. Crossley/M. Blackburn; M. Edmonson/G. Wood; D. Cawthra/P. McDonnell; B. Winrow/M. Griffiths; R. Greenwood/G. Normanton; J. Quick/M. Briggs; P. Dawson/R. Pollard; P. Bowyer/R. Marks; D. Warburton/P. Collins; P. Todd/D. Reynolds; R. Day/T. Brocksom; P. Hint-Brown/T. Leach; D. Greatorex/D. Williams; J.Summerskill/P. Twiddle.
At King Cross: I. Hodges/R. Crossland; A. Winter/D. Illingworth; 20V. Mount/ T. Wood; B. Talbot/D. Smith; D. McMahon/S. Heap; D. Hemsley/M Skwarek; A. Ralph/A. Wright; A. Robinson/R. Wolsey; D. Summerskill/M. Hunter; N. Brown/T. Laycock; D. Squires/P. Gibson; C. Mynard/P. Copley; T. Goulden/A. Dean; T. Hargreaves/T. Harris; G. Booth/G. Hardcastle; B. Robson/C. White
