The Yorkshire Inter-District League was again split into two sections, with Huddersfield playing Keighley, Leeds and new team in the competition Spen Valley. This year they have only entered just the one team for some reason.
These are the known results of the Yorkshire Inter-District League billiard games and a couple of notable results from two important other games.
With Huddersfield, Keighley and Leeds all having won two and lost one, the fourth game away to Keighley, who had beaten them at home, was vital if Huddersfield were to win the section. After two games they had a lead of 20 but as you can see from the report, Gladney saw them through to victory. A win in the next game against arch enemies Leeds would, barring a miracle, see them winning the section. Jack wasn’t at his best having just got back from his London trip, so it was up to Jack Brindley to get them over the winning line – which he did in some style.
| Keighley (Home) | GH 200 – 165 | JM 200 – 189 | JB 78 – 200 | LOST | 478 – 554 |
| Leeds (Home) | _ | _ | _ | WON | _ |
| Spen Valley (Home) | GH 200 – 59 | JB 200 – 117 | JM 200 – 105 | WON | 600 -281 |
| Keighley (Away) | JB 190 – 200 | JM 200 – 169 | GH 200 – 28 | WON | 590 – 397 |
| Leeds (Away) | GH 200 – 67 | JM 169 – 200 | JB 200 – 27 | WON | 569 – 294 |
| Spen Valley (Away) | WM 200 – 119 | JM 200 – 62 | GH 200 – 64 | WON | 600 – 245 |
- TEAM
- GH – Gladney Hoyle
- JM – Jack Mellor
- JB – Jack Brindley
- WM – Willie Mills
Huddersfield won their section and will meet Wharfedale, the winners of the other section, in the play off final. In the first away leg at Yeadon Liberal Club, Willie Mills, deputising for the ill Jack Brindley, gave Huddersfield a good start winning by 39. Gladney Hoyle playing second was beaten by 83 when his opponent ran out with a unfinished 68 to give Wharfedale a lead of 44. It looked as if Jack would wipe out the deficit when leading 170 – 127, but his opponent ran out with a unfinished 73 giving Wharfedale a lead of 74 to take into the second leg at Thornton Lodge Bowling Club. Without the two unfinished breaks of the two Wharfedale players they would no doubt have been behind.
In the second leg Gladney, playing on his own table, and playing first, made up for his first leg defeat by winning. He did not reach his best standard in a match that took over an hour to complete though, and Huddersfield were still behind by 18. Jack also avenged his first leg defeat as he made a century break with his third visit to the table, which he followed with a 53 on his next visit and ran to game with an unfinished 23. This left Mills the easy task of only needing 50 to secure Huddersfield their victory. Despite his opponent pegging him down with safety play and leading 26 – 1, it wasn’t long before the points were on the board at 53 – 29. This brought Huddersfield a third success in consecutive years.
| Away | WM 200 – 161 | GH 117 – 200 | JM 170 – 200 | 487 – 561 |
| Home | GH 200 – 144 | JM 200 – 31 | WM 185 – 200 | 585 – 375 |
Aggregate Total 1072 – 936
Jack was a very popular man in those days and here we see two letters asking him to give exhibitions of billiards and snooker. The first is from the Dalton Grange Club saying arrangements have been made, through Leonard Oldham, for Jack and Gladney Hoyle to visit them on the 12th March. It also says such events have always gone off extremely well, that they are looking forward to their visit, and that transport will be laid on for them to and from the club. The second was from the Dearne Valley Billiards League and says they have written to Harold Burkinshaw who accompanied him the last time they visited. The venue would be at the Manor Croft Club & Institute, Skelmanthorpe on April 8th. This would be before a Huddersfield team played them in a match organised by Leonard Oldham as can be seen below.
Jack Mellor 