N the quarter-finals of both team competitions, the handicappers have had a nightmare. In the Imperial Consultants Cup for First Division teams, Fearns A conceded a 100.5-point start against Rising Bridge A. Bridge scored double figures in each of the 18 games, and Fearns were never in the hunt as their opponents cruised home by 60.5 points Bottom-of-the-league Riverside B were drawn against cup holders Broadway, who failed to raise a team and conceded the match.

The handicappers considered the match between Oakgate and Badgercote to be the closest of the round and awarded Badgercote a 25.5 point start. Oakgate turned over their disadvantage and made it to the semi-final with 17.5 points to spare.

League champions Riverside A conceded a 173.5-point start against Blackford Bridge. Although Riverside won 16 of the 18 games, they fell well short of the handicap, going down by 53.5 points.

In the Imperial consultants Trophy for Second Division teams, all the four home teams in the quarter-finals received a start.

Joint leaders of the division, Fearns B, conceded 100.5 points in their away fixture at Goodshaw. The hosts picked up six-game wins on the night which made the task harder for Fearns and Goodshaw made it to the semi-final with a 49.5 point win The other joint leaders, Transport, conceded a massive 211.5 points start against Edenfield. Although Transport won all 18 games in the match, they did not win by enough and fell 46.5 points short The closest match of the round was considered to be Fearns C who received just 5.5 points start against Phoenix. But it should have been Phoenix who received the start as Fearns cruised home by 45.5 points.

In the last quarter-final, cup holders Haslingden High were given an 89.5-point start against Towneley. This handicap turned out to be nowhere near enough as Towneley reached the semi-final with 31.5 points to spare Imperial Consultants Cup quarter-finals: Fearns A Scratch 354 Rising Bridge A +100.5 420.5; Riverside B won against Broadway by A walkover; Oakgate scratch 344 Badgercote +25.5 326.5; Blackford Bridge +173.5 424.5 Riverside A scratch 371.

Imperial Consultants Trophy quarter-finals: Goodshaw +100.5 389.5 Fearns B Scratch 339; Edenfield +211.5 424.5 Transport scratch 378; Fearns C +5.5 340.5 Phoenix Scratch 295; Haslingden High +89.5 338.5 Towneley scratch 370.