Top two to clash in Middleton classic

GARY ELLIS and Graeme Wilson, generally recognised as the top two players in crown green bowls, clash in the last 16 of the Joe Gateley Memorial Classic at Middleton Conservative Club on Sunday (1pm).

Ellis (Nimble Nook) and Wilson, the Moorside-based Yorkshireman, have a healthy but friendly rival in their quest to be the game’s number one and this will be the latest instalment in that continuing contest.

Also bidding to land the top prize at Middleton will be Ellis’s team-mates Darren Griffiths and Jimmy Derby, Star Inn’s Alan Bidwell and Failsworth’s Lee Lawton.

Draw: D Wright v Griffiths; Bidwell v D Scott; R Goodman v G Hickey; Lawton v L Turner; Ellis v Wilson; D Ferris v C Chapman; A Lowe v Derby; P Wakeling v R Fitzpatrick.

Ellis and Wilson are on a final collision course in tomorrow’s Hill Crest Classic at Sowerby Bridge (start 5pm).

Also in the running for the top prize of £1,400 is Springbank’s Steve Copeland, who plays Halifax ace Graham Hickey.

Draw: Gareth Nicholson v James Wilcox; Wilson v Glynn Cookson; Andrew Duckett v Ellis; Copeland v Hickey.

GREATER Manchester juniors recorded arguably their best win of recent years when they defeated Lancashire on Sunday.

The victory, only their third in eight years, qualified them for next month’s Junior Supplementary Competition.

Nine individual home wins is the highest number Greater Manchester have achieved in that eight-year period, while the nine away wins more than doubled the tally they have managed in any away match in the same period.

Manchester winners in the 210-183 success at Ladybarn BC, Milnrow, were:

Christopher Wildgoose (Tintwistle) 21-5, Robert Newton (Stalybridge Labour) 21-8, Jordan Barker (Wrigley Mill BC) 21-14, Ben Gloag (Lowes Arms) 21-7, player of the match Sarah Vincent (Stalybridge BC) 21-18, James Jones (Lowes Arms) 21-19, Richard Pertoldi (Springbank BC) 21-18, Daniel Sands (Navigation BC) 21-17 and James Hynes (Alkrington BC) 21-14.

Winners in the 228-175 victory at St Aidens SC, Wigan, were:

Michael Chorlton (Black Lane) 21-10, Matt Adams (Hopwood Rec) 21-11, Nick Turrell (Tottington Cons) 21-15, player of the match Sam Bradbury (Manor Park) 21-11, Kyle Kirkby (Buersil) 21-15, Daniel Warrington (Black Lane) 21-15, Joe Ashton (Irlam Cons) 21-13. Mark Rogers (Irlam Steel) 21-4 and Matthew Ashton (Irlam Cons) 21-18.

Overall score: 438-358

TONGE recorded a fine 11-3 (205-153) victory over Garswood Hall in the Manchester Premier League.

Their winners were Matt Gillies (21-20), Jimmy Derby (21-11), Lawrence Hallett (21-13), Steve Squire (21-15), Gary Ellis (21-10), Darren Griffiths (21-14), Thomas Dobson (21-10) and Barry Walker (21-18).

Tonge are away to the Nursery Inn, Stockport, next Wednesday (7.30pm).

FAILSWORTH and District League delegates will meet at Stanley Road Conservative Club next Tuesday (8pm) when the main item on the agenda will be the draw for the individual merit.

THE £3,000 Moorside Classic gets under way next Thursday and there are vacancies on several dates.

To secure a place on July 31 and August 1, 7, 8, 14 or 15 (finals on August 22), send a cheque for £15, payable to Moorside Cricket and Bowling Club, with choice of date and SAE, to: Geoff Woolley, 115 Turf Pit Lane, Moorside, Oldham, OL4 2ND.

Play starts at 6.30 on each night, with practice from 6pm.

SPRINGBANK’S Paul Heap and Ben Stapleton were beaten 21-14 by Ian Holden and David Wood (Todmorden) in the third round of the Thwaites men’s pairs at Norden.

Heats continue on Sunday (5.30pm).