Tonge chase title

NORTH Chadderton Social Club won the Rochdale Bowls League championship. Left to right, back: Len Dearden, Harold Gibson, Keith Platt, Mel Fitton, Ray Nally and Mike Ray. Front: Denis Lord, Frank Royle, Stewart Bentley, Bob Nisbet and Ken Ford.

TONGE are among the favourites to win Sunday’s British Team Championship at Irlam Steel.

They qualified for the finals with a narrow first-round victory over West Kirby Vics of Wallasey and a comfortable defeat of Middleport Park (Stoke) in the last 16.

Their quarter-final opponents at 11am on Sunday are Wolverhampton outfit Woodfield, and the competition is played to its conclusion on the day.

Tonge warmed up for their big day with an 11-3 (193-123) victory over Warrington side Pierpoint in the Manchester Premier League.

Darren Griffiths raced to a 21-1 victory, while there were also wins for Jimmy Derby (21-8), Matt Gillies (21-12), Mark Dwayre (21-13), Thomas Dobson (21-13), Stuart Mort (21-9), Colin Lane (21-12) and Gary Ellis (21-13).

Tonge’s next match is at South Manchester RBL next Wednesday (7.30pm).


FAILSWORTH’S Lee Lawton continued his fine start to the season by winning the Les Evans Memorial Classic at Chadsmoor WMC, Staffordshire.

Lawton, winner of the Lancaster Club Open last month, defeated Andrew Cairns (Rawtenstall) 21-16 in the Chadsmoor final.


MOORSIDE’S Graeme Wilson won the Tom Heyes snr Invitation 16 at the George and Dragon, Hyde, beating Middleport’s Dean Ferris 21-17 in the final.