Veterans clinch title in style

The Bluebird Care-sponsored team clinched top spot in style with a 49-7 drubbing of Castleford.

They went into the match knowing that 37 points would guarantee winning the Famous Grouse Trophy and fielded a very strong line-up with all but for one of the regular players available.

The home team started well at Greenroyd BC with single figure wins for Brian Winrow and captain Malcolm Griffiths, while Alan Dean had a 21-13 success.

At half time, the news from Pontefract BC was that the sides had registered three wins each with Mick Skwarek posting a 21-13 success and David Wood and John Sharp winning even more handsomely.

Things got even better.

Wins for Ken Fleming, Gordon Bradford, Roy Nicholson and a single figure success for John Rowley produced a 63-chalk home win and victory by 25 points to three.

There were storming successes at Pontefract for David Warburton, Dougie Hamilton, Les Holmes and Trevor Heley, who all won to single figures.

Griffiths completed the season unbeaten in the home team, winning six out of six with an average of 9.50. Rowley played all the seven games and lost only once with an average of 6.43.

In the away team, Heley won all his five matches with an average of 9.00. Swarek and Hamilton won five out of seven.

Jim Eaton, Rowley, Fleming and Bradford were newcomers to the teams this season and have all played their part in making it Halifax’s best ever campaign.

The team led by five points after the first round of game and have never been headed.

Managers Peter Collins and Malcolm Griffiths have thanked Michael Holmes and David McMahon for helping out when players were unavailable, the Kingston, Greenroyd and Greetland clubs for the use of their facilities and Sue Griffiths and her helpers for their efforts at home games.

Griffiths said there had been excellent team spirit throughout. He also thanked Shabir Hussain of Bluebird Care Calderdale for sponsorship over the past two seasons.

Results (Halifax players first) - At Greenroyd BC: Alan Dean (West End) 21 A Wilson 13, Philip Holroyd (Hill Crest) 16 T Parker 21, Brian Winrow (Ripponden Park) 21 P Holleran 8, Malcolm Griffiths (Ripponden Park) 21 M Sheridan 5, Roy Nicholson (Mytholmroyd) 21 H Boulton 16, Ken Fleming (Greetland)) 21 A Box 14, John Rowley (West End) 21 B Riddihough 9, Gordon Bradford (Greetland) 21 J Lynch 14,.

At Pontefract: Mick Skwarek (Ripponden Park) 21 R Robbins 13, David Wood (Kingston) 21 K Griffiths 9, Clive Harte (Elland WMC) 14 R Green 21, John Sharp (Ripponden Park) 21 B Ryding 8, Les Holmes (Akroydon Vics) 21 B Clarke 19, David Warburton (Mytholmroyd) 21 T Booth 13, Trevor Heley (Hove Edge) 21 P Lindley 6, Dougie Hamilton (Ripponden Park) 21 I Lewis 18.

Other results: Huddersfield 36 Bradford 20, Leeds 16 West Riding 40, Skipton 41 Wakefield 15.

Final points: Halifax 264, West Riding 235, Huddersfield 221, Bradford 207, Skipton 202, Leeds 169, Castleford 144, Wakefield 126.