Steve’s sights on fourth title

Date published: 12 June 2014


BOWLS: FOUR more finals-night places are up for grabs in the second heats of the Green Final Bowling Handicap tonight.

Among those in action in the Evening Chronicle-sponsored competition is Steve Copeland (Springbank), champion in 1982, 1999 and 2003. His bid to win for the fourth time takes him to Crompton.

John Ashton (Royton), a beaten semi-finalist last year, returns to Moorside to hopefully book his place in this year’s finals on July 5.

Nimble Nook features 2010 finalist Lee Schofield (Friezland), while Royton Cricket hosts a strong field which includes last year’s beaten finalist, Matt Gillies (Nimble Nook) and 2006 champion John Wade (Syke). Matches start at 7pm, with practice from 6.30pm.



TONGE recorded a 10-4.5 (190-137) victory over the Nursery Inn, Stockport, in the Manchester Premier League.

Winners for Tonge were Jimmy Derby (21-4), Gary Ellis (21-8), Jonathan Copeland (21-11), Dave Conroy (21-12), Donny Wilkinson (21-15), Darren Griffiths (21-13) and Thomas Dobson (21-11).

Tonge’s next match is on Wednesday week, June 25, at Warrington outfit King and Queen.



GARY Ellis survived a scare on the way to qualification for finals day in the JW Lees Classic at Hopwood Unionist Club, Heywood. He defeated his Tonge team-mate Thomas Dobson 21-20 before seeing off Preston’s Lyndon Carr 21-14 in the second round.