Tonge suffer title setback

Date published: 18 July 2014


BOWLS

TONGE suffered a big setback in their Manchester Premier League title bid when they went down 11-3 (181-132) to South Manchester RBL.

Only Darren Griffiths (21-4) and Jimmy Derby (21-9) were able to win for Tonge, who suffered a 49-chalks reverse despite those two significant victories.

Thankfully for Tonge, leaders Lloyd Hotel lost at Huddersfield outfit Longwood so the damage was not as great as it might have been.

The top four are now separated by only 4.5 points. Standings: Lloyds 107.5, Tonge 105.5, Sale 104.5, St Joseph’s 103.

There are no Premier League fixtures next Wednesday because of the week-long Fleetwood Festival.

Tonge’s next match is on Wednesday, July 30, at home to St Joseph’s of Chorley.

GRAHAM Brooks won the Chadderton League’s President's Handicap with a 21-17 final verdict over Wilf McDermott.

Quarter-finals: Brooks 21, Peter Gartside 14; Alan Bidwell 15, Barclay Warrington 21; Peter Saville 11, Steve Mellor 21; McDermott 21, Lee Higginbottom 18.

Semi-finals: Brooks 21, Warrington 15; McDermott 21, Mellor 18.

NIMBLE Nook’s Barry Seville and Steve Mellor went out at the third-round stage of the Thwaites men’s pairs at Norden BC, succumbing 21-13 to Walsden’s Ian Holden and Keith Rudman.

Christine Seville and Maxine Fisher were beaten 21-18 by Rochdale’s B Davy and E Ginnevar in the first round of the AC Ventilation women’s pairs at the same venue.

Graham Flint and Simon Cawley and John Ashton and Lee Schofield carry local hopes in the men’s pairs on Sunday (5.30pm).