With six districts entered in the Yorkshire Inter-District League this year, it has been divided into two sections: with Huddersfield, Wharfedale and Wakefield in section ‘A’ and Bradford, Leeds and Morley in section ‘B’. As well as playing the other two in the section, home and away, each district will play another team from the other section, home and away – giving them six games. As in previous years, Huddersfield will play Leeds. There is a change to the billiards team this year as well, with the young and promising Brian Cousen getting his chance to play with Jack and Harold Burkinshaw, with G. Fox of Brockholes BC and N. Sims of Netherton Con. being the reserves. After dominating the competition for many years, the side slumped badly last season with the departure of Gladney Hoyle, but there is no reason that they can’t challenge again this year if the players produce the form they are capable of.
It is reported that the team played with a more determined spirit in the first game than they did last season. New “boy” Brian Cousen, not Cousens, was up first and did quite well, but couldn’t quite find a debut win. Harold had an easy win which included a break of 76. Jack played George Emmott, marking the meeting of two ex-Yorkshire Champions a good game, with Jack coming out a worthy winner.
In the third match the team started with Harold up first, playing well with a break of 52. From that point he was always in command and never in danger of defeat. Jack was on next and scores were fairly even up to 100 but then Jack took the initiative and gradually drew away. With a lead of 152 the pressure was off Brian and at one point it seemed as if he would win – but he just failed to fall over the line.
From the report on the left it would seem that Huddersfield must have beaten Wharfedale in the last match, though I don’t have a report for it. By the same token I’m guessing that they lost to Leeds with the next report. Harold on first lost easily, never producing the form of a local champion. Jack played a good game and despite not having things go his way, won with the help of a break of 65. With the match in the balance, Brian started quite well, but his more experienced opponent produced the goods when it mattered.
| Wharfedale (Home) | BC 170 – 200 | HB 200 – 63 | JM 200 – 118 | WON | 570 – 381 | 5 Points |
| Leeds (Away) | BC | HB | JM | LOST | ? | ? Points |
| Wakefield (Away) | HB 200 – 100 | JM 200 – 148 | BC 195 – 200 | WON | 595 – 448 | 5 Points |
| Wharfedale (Away) | HB | JM | BC | ? | ? | ? Points |
| Leeds (Home) | HB | JM | BC | ? | ? | ? Points |
| Wakefield (Home) | HB 119 – 200 | JM 200 – 177 | BC 170 – 200 | LOST | 489 – 577 | 2 Points |
- TEAM
- JM – Jack Mellor
- HB – Harold Burkinshaw
- BC – Brian Cousen
This year they were too inconsistent, playing well in one game then playing well below their abilities in the next. After the retirement of Gladney last year, they experimented with Cyril Shackleton and Sid Burhouse but went with the young Brian Cousen this year. The selection committee needs to sit down and give it some serious thought and come up with Gladney’s replacement. There is a possibility that the League will be completely reorganised next year, we wait and see.
Jack Mellor 