Stamford go through by skin of their teeth

GOLF: 

STAMFORD ‘A’ made it into the Oldham and District Golf League play-offs – but only just!

They lost 5-3 at North Manchester on the final week of the regular season in the ‘A’ Section West Division, to go level on points with open-dated Dukinfield and sneak through on countback thanks to having most wins (6-5).

Blackley took top spot with a 6-2 win at Werneth Low, and now have home advantage over Denton in the semi-finals. Stamford will travel to Werneth.

In the ‘B’ Section, Blackley and Dukinfield did all they could with 8-0 home wins over Werneth Low and Castle Hawk respectively. But they needed the top two to slip up at home on the last day, and neither did. Stamford beat North Manchester 7-1 to finish top, while Oldham defeated Saddleworth 6-2 to claim the runners-up spot.

Meanwhile, the ‘B’ Cup final has been forced into extra-time with Ashton ‘B’ on the brink of what they hope will be the first leg of a league and cup double.

They and Brookdale ‘B’ were locked together at 2-2 when bad light forced off the final match at Denton with the Ashton pair two up with three holes to play.

They will resume on Friday.