1962 – 63

The headline refers to the shock win that Bradford had last year at Golcar Conservative Club over the billiards team. The report started by saying they a narrow victory over Leeds in the previous match, but we do not have any scores. The team remains unchanged for the third game against Bradford, which is now Jack, Harold Burkinshaw and Jack Firth, with Brian Cousen as reserve.

The fourth game in the league was against undefeated Wharfedale, who had only lost one individual game out of the nine played, so it was a surprise when Huddersfield beat them by winning all three games and throwing the league wide open. Brian Cousen, returning to the side in place of Jack Firth, justified his inclusion and Jack avenged his previous loss at home to D Cruikshank with a break of 101 to score his victory.

Not the headline our billiard team wanted but it seems they hadn’t done enough in the season to warrant a headline of note. Harold was ill, and with Jack Firth moving to the snooker team, Cyril Shackleton was brought in. Brian continued his good form to prevent a white wash and it looks as if he would be in the side for the foreseeable future.

Again, the headline is for the snooker side who need a good victory to finish second in the league – something which does attract championship money. They did just that, and it is reported that if Jack Firth had been in the team from the start of the season, the Championship could well have come to Huddersfield. Brian seems to have found his feet at this level and had a good victory over the Hungarian. Harold had a moderate game with neither player producing anything of note, and finished the season on a losing note. Jack signed off with a win in the best game of the night, with breaks of 77 and 51. Leonard Oldham, the reporter, seems quite upbeat in his report, stating that the teams that ended the season should hold their own next year. At billiards that was Jack, Harold and Brian. At snooker, Tommy Donlan, Jim Dennison and Jack Firth.