Ellis masters his rivals in Portugal

WINNERS in the Failsworth Bowls League are pictured at their presentation evening at Stanley Road Conservative Club, Chadderton. In the foreground, Dave Thornley (left) collects the President’s Trophy from league president Frank Lees.

NIMBLE NOOK and Tonge star Gary Ellis ended a superb season on the highest-possible note with victory in the inaugural £10,000 Oceanico Bowls Masters in Portugal.

Sixteen of the top competition winners from England were invited, while the other 48 contestants paid their own entrance fee and accommodation on the Algarve.

And, fittingly, it was crown green bowling’s top two players who fought out the finish of the event, Ellis beating Graeme Wilson 21-20 in a marvellous final in front of the Sky Sports cameras at the Amendoeira sports complex.

Quarter-finals: Clynn Cookson 21, Chris MacDonald 9; Wilson 21, Dave Jackson 13; Anthony Bracken 21, Darren Smith 8; Ellis 21, Craig Shore 14.

Semi-finals: Wilson 21, Cookson 13; Ellis 21, Bracken 11.

The final stages of the competition will be shown on Sky Sports 3 on November 3 and 4.



THERE was a big shock in the ‘A’ Division of the Inbev Bowling League at Chadderton Cot when struggling New Street overturned previously-unbeaten leaders Royle.

Mark Prosser held his nerve in a tense last-game battle with Gary Coverdale as New Street clinched the aggregate by three points.

Waterloo and Taunton and Springbank are hot on the heels of Royle following impressive victories.

Waterloo slammed Hopwood 10-1, Dave Walker leading the way with a brilliant 21-2 victory.

And Springbank recorded an identical win against Nimble Nook, Llew Roberts registering a 21-3 success.

Lees/Springhead are clearly the team to beat in the ‘B’ Division and they maintained their superb start to the season with a 10-1 defeat of Vixens, Andy Tupman winning 21-4.

‘A’ Division

Royle (150) 5, New Street (153) 6: T Hedderman 21, C Whittaker 19; M Clough 21, M Bellenger 19; P Fielding 21, K Newberry 18; E Davies 21, D Moulton 15; A Rushton 21, R Lorimer 19; D Murray 12, M Holden 21; G Coverdale 20, M Prosser 21; M Gillies 13, L Toth 21.

Hopwood (102) 1 Waterloo & Taunton (157) 10: K McHugh 14 A Walker 21, C Chapman 2 D Walker 21, M Keegan 21 M Flitcroft 10, B Cosgrove 13 A Critchlow 21, M Heselwood 10 L Turner 21, R Goodman 12 C Roberts 21, S McHugh 11 C Heyes 21, I Turrell 19 L Greenhough 21.

Nimble Nook (99) 1 Springbank (162) 10: S Schofield 13 W McDermott 21, J Apps 15 D Crabtree 21, S Mellor 16 A Hodson 21, B Seville 3 L Roberts 21, R Ankers 8 J Hynes 21, R Price 10 B Stapleton 21, R Nisbet 21 P Heap 15, E Worthington 13 M Hodson 21.

‘B’ Division

Dogwood (127) 0 Prestwich (168) 11: G Hallsor 19 S Dixon 21, C Breakell 15 J Davies 21, B Naylor 14 S Blaymire 21, K Street 13 S Morley 21, A Simpson 20 D Palmer 21, P Heighway 20 A Conchie 21, R Crossley 13 I Luckett 21, A Bonter 13 S Cameron 21.

Stalybridge (128) 2 Failsworth (162) 9: D Winder 18 P Gleave 21, S J Vincent 17 G Goldrick 21,L Vincent 8 N Colley 21, J Pajak 21 B Yates 16, D McGuiness 10 J Melia 21, S Vincent 16 J Fox 21, T Wood 21 B Corr 20, B Garside 17 K Cromwell 21.

Vixens (88) 1 Lees Springhead (167) 10: D Fish 12 T Rogers 21, J Wild 12 B Reddyoff 21, C Apps 4 A Tupman 21, P Norton 9 P Roberts 21, A Wooley 10 M McLean 21, C Kewley 21 C Bradbury 20, B Cooper 15 W Roberts 21, J Rayner 5 J Ashton 21.