Griffiths turns in classic display
Reporter: by KEITH McHUGH
Date published: 25 August 2009
DARREN GRIFFITHS produced a brilliant performance to see off a top-class field and win the £3,000 Moorside Classic on Friday night.
The Nimble Nook and Tonge star, winner of the South Leeds Classic last month, defeated Leek’s Dean Ferris 21-19 in a superb final.
Earlier, Griffiths had beaten Terry Glover, Dave Hallam and Paul Dudley in convincing style, while Ferris’s victims were Nook’s Matt Gillies, Oldham Evening Chronicle Handicap winner Peter Craig and Graeme Wilson, the season’s most successful player.
After beating Springbank’s Alan Hodson in the last 16, Nook’s Andrew Buckley went out at the hands of Wilson.
Last 16: Hodson 17, Buckley 21; Wilson 21, Kevan Shaw 8; Craig 21, Roy Nicholson 8; Gillies 20, Ferris 21; Paul Sigsworth 16, Richard dandy 21; Ant Aldridge 12, Paul Dudley 21; Griffiths 21, Glover 10; Hallam 21, Graham Hickey 20.
Quarter-finals: Buckley 19, Wilson 21; Craig 14, Ferris 21; Dandy 9, Dudley 21; Griffiths 21, Hallam 10.
Semi-finals: Wilson 13, Ferris 21; Dudley 14, Griffiths 21.
Final: Ferris 19, Griffiths 21.
JONATHAN Copeland retained the Junior Waterloo title in Blackpool on Sunday despite conceding starts all round.
As reigning champion, the Nimble Nook rising star gave two chalks start to all his opponents, including three-times champion Wayne Ditchfield (New Longton) whom Jonathan beat 21-17 in the last 16.
The Visit Blackpool-sponsored event attracted 64 entrants to show junior bowls is alive and well, and 17-year-old Jonathan came through a tough draw to pocket the £200 top prize and lift the prestigious trophy.
He beat recent Fleetwood Festival junior winner Matt Stewart (Cumbria) 21-18 in the final after seeing off Conor Davis (Pudsey) by the same score in the semis.
THE finals of the Failsworth League Merit will take place at Werneth Cricket Club on Sunday.
The qualifiers are Brian Firman and Neil Pollitt (HMSO), Alan Hodson, Mark Garbutt and Paul Heap (Springbank), David Thornley (Dobcross), Brian Horsfield (Failsworth Cycle) and Ian Gorbutt (Royton).
