BOWLS ROUND-UP by KEITH McHUGH

ONLY eight vacancies remain for this season’s Oldham Evening Chronicle Bowling Handicap.

The first qualifying night, Friday, June 6, is full, so players who wish to enter should act now to book places for the following Friday, June 13.

Heats on that night will take place at Crompton and Waterloo and Taunton, while the finals will be held for the first time at North Chadderton Social and Bowling Club on Saturday, July 12.

To enter, fill in the form on this page and send it, with entry fee, to Bob Nisbet at the address provided.


     

TONGE produced one of their best displays of the Manchester Premier League season to beat a strong Sale XL side 11-3 (194-125) at home.

Highlight of their victory was a superb performance from Matt Gillies, who beat Noel Burrows 21-9.

Lawrence Hallett (21-7), Gary Ellis (21-6), Mark Dwayre (21-6) and Darren Griffiths (21-9) also registered single-figure wins, while the other successful Tonge players were Jimmy Derby (21-16), Steve Copeland (21-13) and Thomas Dobson (21-17).

Tonge have two games next week. They go to Longwood on Wednesday and host fellow title contenders Lloyds the following night for a fixture which has been brought forward to avoid a clash with the Champions League final the following week.

Both matches start at 7.30pm.


     

GARY Ellis made it three tournament victories for the season when he lifted the £500 top prize in the Burnley St Andrews Classic Invitation 32.

Ellis, who plays for Nimble Nook and Tonge, beat Lytham’s Mike Leach 21-12 in the final after defeating Failsworth’s Lee Lawton 21-17 in the semis.

Lawton had better luck in the Freddie Hulme Celebration Trophy invitation event at the Nursery Inn, Stockport.

He beat Noel Burrows 21-16 in the final following a 21-17 verdict against Moorside’s Graeme Wilson in the semis.

Ellis and Lawton will bid for the £400 top prize in the £1,600 RRG of Bury Open at Allens Green BC, Radcliffe, on Sunday (1pm).

A top-class field also includes Ellis’s Tonge team-mates Colin lane, Jimmy Derby and Matt Gillies.

Draw: Lane v Ray Goodhand; Wayne Usher v Peter Fielding; Stuart Gall v Graeme Hickey; Dave Clarkson v Paul Dudley; Rob Fitzpatrick v Derby; Gillies v Ellis; Robert Hitchen v Chris MacDonald; Lawton v Andrew Walker.


     

NORDEN’S Brennan Paving mixed pairs competition continues on Sunday (5.30pm) when A and V Jackson and P Heap and partner carry local hopes.

THE Chadderton Bowls League will hold a delegates meeting at West End BC on Tuesday (8pm).

Entries for this season’s President’s Trophy competition should be handed in.      

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