Bowlers gathered at an historic green for what they fear could be one of its last matches.

The Yorkshire county senior team faced Warwick and Worcester at the old Newsome WMC bowling green on St John’s Avenue.

The green could be bulldozed if plans to build houses and bungalows on the site are given the go ahead by Kirklees Council.

More than 100 people came out to watch the match and in support of the site, which has been in constant use for around 110 years.

Latterly it has been used by by the Newsome Community Sports and Bowling Club along with a popular tea hut .

It has been under threat for over a year since the Newsome WMC shut down after running into financial problems and was bought by Newsome WMC Ltd.

A licence was granted to the bowling club to use the green and pavilion for this final season with the new owners subsidising the facility but the 50-member bowling group was given notice to vacate the ground by September 27.

Jacqui Sullivan, secretary of the club, said those who use the site were planning to fight against the application.

She said: “We are trying our best to keep the site for the community and have instructed lawyers to look into the situation for us.

“The green and tea house are not just used by us but by other community groups who have events or meetings in the tea hut most days and the green is open to everyone– it’s the hub of the community.

“I just wish the community had been consulted on the plans before they were submitted–if they get the go ahead they will rip the heart out of it.”

The former club is due to re-open on July 10 as Newsome Brewery Tap.

Mavis Wrigley, a female player who has been part of the Newsome team for 22 years, said: “Our club has put a lot of work into the ground over the years and it’s for that reason that it has been chosen to hold such high ranking matches.

“We had originally been told that it wasn’t likely anyone would want to buy the ground, so we feel really let down.”

One of the club’s options if the planning application is successful could be to move to Primrose Hill Liberal Bowling Club.

Another long time member, Derek Gibson, said: “It’s a community asset. We had looked into trying to buy it but the liquidator said no.

“Nevertheless, we will keep on fighting.”