Dukinfield back from the brink

GOLF:  

DUKINFIELD staged an amazing recovery to reach the ‘A’ Section play-off final and keep alive their hopes of a league and cup double.

Down 7-1 after the first leg at Blackley, Gary Beresford’s side splashed through the rain in the home leg to equal that result and take the tie into a sudden-death decider — which they won at the second extra hole in the gathering gloom. They will now meet Ashton in the final at Werneth on Sunday, September 21 (2pm).

Ashton booked their place in the final in extra time after their match with Werneth finished 8-8 on aggregate after two 5-3 home wins.

Werneth, at home in the second leg after topping the East Division, looked set to go through with two wins in the can and their third pairing one up on the 18th tee.

But Ashton captain Andy Lomas birdied the last hole to level things and partner Steve McGee sealed it at the second extra hole, having produced an under gross par performance to match that of Werneth’s in-form Adam Rowbotham.

The ‘B’ Section play-off final will be between North Manchester and Blackley.

North overturned a 5-3 first-leg deficit against Stamford to win 7-1 at home and 10-6 on aggregate, while Blackley were never in trouble against Oldham, having won the away leg 5-3 and 6-2 in the return (11-5 overall). The two clubs will meet in the final on Sunday, October 12 at a venue to be decided.

Blackley are also chasing a league and cup double as they face Fairfield in the ‘B’ Cup final at Denton on Sunday, August 31 (3.45pm).

The ‘A’ Cup final, between Dukinfield and Brookdale, takes place 24 hours earlier, Saturday, August 30, at Ashton (3.45pm).