Tonge clinch title

TONGE clinched the Inbev Winter Bowling League’s ‘B’ Division title with an 8-3 victory over Prestwich and need only win their game next weekend to go through the season unbeaten.

Nimble Nook defeated Dogwood 9-2 on Chadderton Cot’s artificial surface to all but secure second spot and a place in the promotion play-off.

North Chadderton overcame Failsworth 7-4 in the other ‘B’ Division game to be played and look booked for third spot.

S Mellor (Nimble Nook) and D Mountford (North Chadderton) lead the way in the individual merit with 14 wins.

A Gardner, P Biram and G Gardner (all Tonge) come next on 13.

In the first two thirds of their ‘A’ Division campaign, Royle won 11 out of 12 games.

Since Christmas, they have won two out of five and on Sunday they were held to a 5.5-5.5 draw by Radcliffe.

Hopwood, who beat relegation-threatened Lees/Springhead 9-2, are only 8.5 points behind with a game in hand and have a real chance of snatching the title from the long-time leaders.

Waterloo and Taunton came back from a week’s break to defeat New Street 9-2 and should finish the season in third place.

Five players have 11 wins in the chase for the individual merit prize – R Goodman (Hopwood), I Turrell (Radcliffe), G Coverdale (Royle), P Fielding (Royle), and C Heyes (Waterloo and Taunton).

‘A’ DIVISION

Royle (140) 5.5 Radcliffe (140) 5.5: J Wade 21 K Newbury 18, A Rushton 21 L Toth 14, T Hedderman 21 M O’Neil 18, M Clough 20 J Carr 21, P Fielding 10 I Turrell 21, M Gillies 17 T Taylor 21, M Connolly 9 T Lytham 21, G Coverdale 21 M Middleton 6.

Lees/Springhead (133) 2 Hopwood Rec (156) 9: B Reddyoff 21 A Mellor 18, A Tupman 8 C Chapman 21, J Ashton 21 K McHugh 12, T Rogers 13 N Greenhalgh 21, M McClean 11 R Goodman 21,

New Street (128) 2 Waterloo & Taunton (149) 9: A Lowe 19 A Walker 21, A Cairns 21 C Roberts 9, R J Lorimer 16 L Lawton 21, M Suthers 9 D Walker 21, M Holden 21 A Critchlow 14, M Bellenger 18 P Leah 21, D Moulton 11 G I Wilson 21, M Prosser 13 C Heyes 21.

‘B’ DIVISION

Dogwood (137) 2 Nimble Nook (163) 9: C Breakell 21 D Booth 18, W Flanagan 9 B Nisbet 21, G Hallsor 19 C Seville 21, F Shaw 18 F Cassidy 21, A Simpson 20 E Worthington 21, D Brierley 13 S Mellor 21, J Lewis 16 R Price 21, R Crossley 21 B Seville 19.

Lower Failsworth (123) 4 North Chadderton (148) 7: J Fox 2 D Mountford 21, M Burgess 15 J Irons Snr 21, B Yates 21 G Flint 14, N Colley 21 D Hoyle 10, J Halliwell 21 J Mountford 20, P Gleaves 12 J Rudkin 21, J Melia 21 W Holland 20, A Farrer 10 J Irons Jnr 21.

Prestwich (107) 3 Tonge (144) 8: S Blaymire 17 G Gardner 21, S Morley 21 P Butler 15, A Davenport 21 M Baguley 12, A Conchie 7 P Byrom 21, S Dixon 8 A Jackson 21, I Luckett 12 C Bennett 21, G Martin 21 M Hargreaves 12, Absent 0 G Tompkinson 21.