As Towergate Halifax League champions, Royd, in Halifax League action on Saturday, are representing the league in the Black Sheep Champions Trophy, sponsored by the Masham based brewery, on Sunday, May 18 (match starts 1.30 pm).

And they face a tough task, says club stalwart Martyn Astin, in the shape of opponents Woodlands.

Martyn - who hit an unbeaten 123 for Royd's second eleven in their derby Crossley Shield win over Old Town last week - says: "They are the Bradford League champions and have something of a star side with many of their players having experience of second eleven county cricket.

"But if we can make 200 we might be in with a chance.

"We have top runmakers like Jon Lord in our ranks and we're hoping for a nice day and good crowd to support us representing the district." Refreshments will be on offer and the bar will be open.

Royd certainly go into the match in form, taking ten points from last Saturday's 51-run win over Sowerby Bridge and then knocking valley side Old Town out of the Parish Cup on Sunday.

Tom Earle (62) led the way on Saturday with strong support from all the top order and with Gideon Foster and Zeb Mahmood working the ball well Sowerby Bridge were dismissed for 224.

On Sunday Royd batted first on their home track and posted a 212 target for Old Town to chase, Lord returning from suspension to top score for Royd with 45. The experienced Gareth Duffield led Old Town's fightback with a fine 31 and Paul Thwaites contributed 26 but it was always going to be difficult for the Boston Hill men as Lord added to his haul with five wickets and Rashid took four. Paul Senior got the other.

It was a weekend of derbies for Old Town, who entertained Bridgeholme in the league on Saturday but went down by six wickets, Thwaites top scoring with 35 as the home side took first use of the wicket.

They posted a target of 86, but with Bridgeholme entering a weekend of rich batting form themselves they were outgunnned although Butterworth and Duffield, as they did a day later, got wickets and Jamal picked up one too.

Booth went down to defeat against Warley despite posting a useful target of 215, with Robert Cockroft on an unbeaten half century and Nigel Horsfall making 49. But Warley had plenty in the tank runswise and passed the target with the loss of six wickets, Helliwell's 76 being crucial. Booth rang the bowling changes to try and ratchet up the pressure with Collinge's four wickets a highlight.

A day later they exited the Parish Cup at the hands of Jer Lane having posted another target in excess of 200 but being overhauled. Jim Mosely's opening 93 certainly got Booth off on the right foot but Jer Lane matched Booth's run-making and clinched victory.

Luddenden Foot hammered Queensbury in the league last Saturday, skittling their opponents out for just 35 in their division one clash.

J.