HUDDERSFIELD bowlers have a big part to play as Yorkshire hunt a place in the County Championship final.

Almondbury BC plays host to Sunday’s semi-final against Greater Manchester (2.00), when more than half the home side under manager Keith Hatzer is made up of quality players from this area.

The away side at Stalybridge – managed by Allan Thompson – also features six of our top stars and Yorkshire will be hoping they have the overall firepower to go through.

Home – (Yorkshire names first): Steven Hirst (Netherton Con) v Andy Cairns, Graham Higgins (Lower Hopton) v Andy Buckley, David Fisher (Morton House) v Jimmy Derby, James Hanson (Pudsey) v Nigel Greenhalgh, Craig Gant (Netherton Con) v Steve Squire, Dave Fox (Kirkheaton Con) v Darren Griffiths, Dave Cooper (Pudsey Littlemoor) v Ben Phillips, Jack Dyson (Netherton Con) v Peter Craig, Ashley Tattersley (Morton House) v Alan Hodson, James Wilcox (Crossgates) v Steve Copeland, Graham Hickey (Lower Hopton) v Darren Holt, Ashley Daykin (Netherton Con) v Gary Ellis.

Away – (side includes): Graeme Wilson (Lower Hopton), Ian Booth (Lower Hopton), Mark Regan (Brighouse Sp), Nicky White (Thongsbridge), Robert Hitchen (Lower Hopton) and the captain, Chris Mordue (Brighouse Sp).

The next round of the Spen Masters will be played on Saturday (start 6.00, practice 5.30).

Draw: Callum Wraight (Shrewsbury) v Graham Franklin (Tadcaster), Thomas Hanson (Pudsey) v Andy White (Manchester), Robert Hitchen (Halifax) v Ryan Clark (Sheffield), Mark Regan (Halifax) v Clive Austin (Halifax), Kevin Nixon (Doncaster) v Chris Kelly (Sheffield), Andrew Judson (Shrewsbury) v Stuart Hanson (Pudsey), Peter Clark (Skipton) v Noel Burrows (Stockport), Richard Goddard (Shrewsbury) v Richard Hobson (Halifax).

P Haigh and M Walsh of Crossroads are the first qualifiers in the Grosvenor Open Pairs at Hill Crest.

Saturday’s card – (drawn on the green 6.30): F Greenwood/R Sutton (Huddersfield), D & N Hughes (Rothwell), P Turner/Partner (Hebden Bridge), S Martin & D Blackburn (Hebden Bridge), A Byrnes/B Morley (Huddersfield), B & G Carroll (Warrington), R Newton/C Lloyd (Cheshire), J Hodgson/P Boydell (Leigh).