Buckley in line for a hat-trick

BOWLERS who performed the draw for the finals of this year’s Oldham Evening Chronicle Handicap clearly had a sense of theatre.

Top of the list of possible clashes in the final is a father and son showdown between Alan and Martin Hodson.

Then again, Darren Griffiths could take on his pairs partner Andrew Buckley.

Or what about competition chairman Keith McHugh taking on the patron-president John Lord?

Failing that, we could see Peter Fielding play his Greater Manchester colleague Colin Lane.

Whatever the outcome when the finals are played tomorrow (6pm, practice from 5.30), there is sure to be some top-class bowling for spectators to enjoy.

And whoever wins the £250 top prize and prestigious trophy will be the first person to be crowned champion at North Chadderton Social and Bowling Club.

After 14 finals at Royton Cricket Club, North Chadderton has been chosen to stage the climax of the Chronicle competition.

The tricky and demanding green should provide a superb spectacle for the night’s action which gets under way with a clash between Griffiths (Nimble Nook) and Martin Hodson (Springbank).

Griffiths, the rock-steady Mr Consistency of the local scene, was runner-up in this competition two years ago but, surprisingly, has never managed to get his hands on the Chronicle trophy.

And he is likely to be tested by the Springbank youngster, who has enjoyed a successful season with plenty of solid performances on the open handicap scene.

Fielding (Syke) and McHugh (Hopwood), last year’s beaten finalist, have played for the same teams on many occasions over the years and know each other’s games well.

A tactical battle is in store, then, so the player who gets his gameplan right is likely to prevail.

Lord (Delph) was beaten by McHugh in last year’s quarter-finals and will be keen to do himself justice this time round.

But he will have his hands full with Greater Manchester regular Alan Hodson (Springbank), who knows the North Chadderton green well and is one of the favourites with the bookmakers to win the competition.

Completing the quarter-finals is the clash of Nimble Nook team-mates Andrew Buckley and Colin Lane.

Buckley, the champion in 1998 and 2002, will be desperate to make it a hat-trick of titles and is clearly one of the strongest contenders.

Captain of the Greater Manchester team, he won last year’s Spring Waterloo Handicap in Blackpool and it is no surprise to see the bookies install him as 7-4 favourite.

But Lane possesses the talent and temperament to push him hard.

Another Greater Manchester representative, Lane qualified for the finals in some style and will fancy his chances of going all the way.

Latest betting: 7-4 Buckley; 2-1 A Hodson; 5-2 Griffiths; 4-1 Fielding; 5-1 Lane; 6-1 McHugh; 12-1 M Hodson, Lord.




ADMISSION to tomorrow’s finals costs £1. Gate receipts and proceeds from a raffle to be held around the green will go to the competition’s charity fund and a beneficiary will be decided in the near future.



n NORTH Chadderton officials have warned spectators that there is only limited parking space at the club, so those coming by car should park in the nearby streets.