Law Swallow Cup thriller

ASHTON Cricket Club bowls team with league president Tom Charlton

Bowls: ASHTON Cricket Club’s team won the Saddleworth Bowling League’s Law Swallow Cup at Springbank, edging out Springhead Libs ‘A’ in the final 192-190.

Springhead gave Ashton a four start and found themselves 11 down after four blocks thanks to Alan Critchlow’s 21-7 win.

With the last two blocks on the green, Springhead were six adrift. Paul Roberts then won 21-16 to leave Springhead only one down, leaving Chris Butterworth needing to win 21-19 or better against Ashton’s Geoff Moxon.

Butterworth led 20-19 and looked to be on the verge of landing the cup for his team when he lay with a foot bowl on a difficult mark across the middle of the green. Moxon then played perfectly to take out Butterworth’s bowl and got the one he required to clinch Ashton the honours by two chalks.

The eighth game was the big turning point. Springhead’s Lee Tupman appeared a certain winner after building 19-8 lead over John Blezard, only for Blezard to make it 19 across before eventually losing 21-19. Those chalks made all the difference to the result.