Yorkshire, 12 times the champions since the Northern Counties League was formed in 1984, finished last after losing by a solitary point to Cheshire who leapfrogged them to avoid the wooden spoon.
A number of players turning professional and the unavailability at times of others proved too much to overcome and Yorkshire lost four of their five matches as Lancashire strolled to the title with a 100 per cent record.
All four defeats were by j
ust one point, making Yorkshire's individual matches won tally second only to Lancashire's, so the final outcome could have been different.
RESULT: Cheshire 9.5, Yorkshire 8.5 (Prenton).
Foursomes: D Appleyard (South Leeds) & J Jones (Saltburn) halved with I Winstanley (Warrington) & E Parker (Crewe); R Law (Low Laithes) & D Gavins (Wheatley) lost to C Lewis (Prenton) & J Murphy (Shrigley Hall) 3&2; D Berry (West Bradford) & J Firth (Baildon) lost to A Wills (Sandiway) & M Bedford Prestbury) 2&1; W Shucksmith (Alwoodley) & T Hesketh (Oakdale) bt D Peel (Stockport) & J West (Altrincham) 4&3; L Maguire (Howley Hall) & M Brown (Pike Hills) lost to T Boys (Royal Liverpool) & J Little (Heswall) 1 hole; L Bramhall (Hillsborough) & L Cooper (Headingley) bt R Hearty (Bromborough) & D Hird (Leasowe) 2&1. 2.5-3.5.
Singles: Law lost to Lewis 4&2; Appleyard bt Winstanley 2&1; Berry bt Murphy 1 hole; Jones lost to Parker 2&1; Gavins bt Wills 2&1; Shucksmith bt Peel 5&4; Hesketh lost to Bedford 1 hole; Firth lost to Hearty 1 hole; Bramall lost to West 2&1; Cooper bt Best 4&3; Maguire lost to Hird 2&1; Brown bt Little 4&3. 6-6.
Final tables
Leeds Scratch League
Division 1: Wike Ridge 48; Pontefract 43; Moortown 39; Wakefield 37; Howley Hall 36; South Leeds 32 (rel); Garforth 17 (rel).
Division 2: Normanton 42 pro); Selby 41 (pro); Cookridge Hall 41; Horsforth 38; Moor Allerton 36; Temple Newsam 31 (rel); Leeds 23 (rel).
Division 3: Sand Moor 41 (pro); Scarcroft 40 (pro); Mid Yorkshire 40; Low Laithes 39; Headingley 35; Wetherby 29 (rel); Woolley Park 28 (rel).
Division 4: Waterton Park 44 (pro); Barnsley 39 (pro); Roundhay 33; Gotts Park 27; City of`Wakefield 26; Middleton Park 11.
Leeds Net League
Division A: Garforth 40; Horsforth 39; Mid Yorkshire 39; Barnsley 38; Sand Moor 36; Howley Hall 36 (rel); Temple Newsam 24 (rel).
Division B: Selby 43 (pro); Scarcroft 42 (pro); Waterton Park 40; South Leeds 39; Wetherby 33 (rel); Woolley Park 28 (rel); Wakefield 26 (rel).
Division C: Low Laithes 40 (pro); Moor Allerton 37 (pro); Headingley 32; Wike Ridge 30; Normanton 23 (rel); City of Wakefield 18 (rel).
Division D: Cookridge Hall 22 (pro); Gotts Park 21 (pro); Leeds 19; Whitwood 8; Ferrybridge record expunged.
Leeds Junior League
Division 1: Howley Hall 46pts; Temple Newsam 43; Low Laithes 35; Headingley 34; Woolley Park 32; Garforth 32 (rel); Selby 30 (rel).
The full article contains 489 words and appears in EP Leeds First & County newspaper.
