Tonge back in the groove

BOWLS: TONGE got their Manchester Premier League title challenge back on track with a superb 13.5-3 (195-151) victory at Huddersfield outfit Longwood.

Following their shock home defeat at the hands of Lloyds the previous week, Tonge showed their mettle with seven winners.

Colin Lane led the way with a 21-8 defeat of top homester Roger Crowther, while there were also wins for Matt Gillies (21-20), Jimmy Derby (21-15), Simon Coupe (21-6), Darren Griffiths (21-16), Gary Ellis (21-13) and Stuart Mort (21-10).

Tonge entertain Stockport side Nursery Inn on Wednesday (7.30pm).


LANE, Ellis and Jonathan Copeland will carry local hopes in the finals of the Waterloo Spring Handicap in Blackpool on Sunday (9.30am).
Graeme Wilson is the 7-2 favourite, with Ellis second favourite at 6-1.


ANDREW Buckley, Darren Griffiths and Martin Hodson provide the local interest on a top-class bill in Hopwood Unionist Club’s £1,550 John Willie Lees Classic tonight (6.30pm).
Draw: D Holt v R Morgan; Roger Crowther v M Gee; D Walker v D Griffiths; J Hargreaves v A Whittaker; A Buckley v Chris Jenkins; M Hodson v A Mailer; A Tate v A Hill; M Foster v M Beever.


NORTH Chadderton Social and Bowling Club will stage the first heats of the Greater Manchester Merit tonight (7pm).

THE first heats in this year’s Oldham Evening Chronicle Bowling Handicap will be held next Friday (6pm practice, 6.30pm start).


The draw is:

CROMPTON

D Mountford (North Chadderton) 3 v B Cooper (Royton Cricket) 5; G Woolley (Springbank) 2 v A Buckley (Nimble Nook) 2; J White (Delph) 3, v M Allingan (Springhead Libs) 4; P Guilfoyle (Delph) v M Coleman (Phoenix) 4.

G Coverdale (North Chadderton) 3 v Martin Hodson (Springbank) 2; P Roberts (Springhead Libs) 4 v J Mountford (North Chadderton) 3; P Craig (Syke) -1 v D McManus (Hollinwood Cricket) 3; S Bolton (Royton) 2 v C Brooks (Royton) 2.

NIMBLE NOOK

S Hubbert (North Chadderton) 3 v D Aspin (Royton Cricket) 4; N Brooks (Syke) 2 v S Copeland (Springbank) 2; P Fielding (Syke) 2 v A Whiteley (Wrigley Mill) 4; S Mullington (Buersil Park) 3 v P Wakeling (North Chadderton) 4.

G Flint (North Chadderton) 3 v A Lowe (Syke) 2; J Barber (Friezland) 4 v J Ramsbottom (Royton Cricket) 2; B Sowerby (Church Inn) 2 v A Jackson (Chadderton Cot) 4; D O’Brien (Springbank) 2 v P Biram (North Chadderton) 3.


THE Saddleworth League’s pairs competition will take place tomorrow at Crompton, Moorside, Waterloo and Taunton and Church (1pm practice, 1.30pm start and strike-out).

The finals will be held at Nimble Nook on Sunday (12.45pm practice, 1.15pm start and strike-out).

A healthy total of 51 pairs have entered.


THERE is plenty of local representation in the finals of the Brennan Paving mixed pairs competition at Norden BC on Sunday (4pm).
Springbank’s Paul Heap teams up with Julie Broadhurst (Stockport), Nimble Nook’s Joanne Little partners Tim Holt (Bamford) and Oldham’s Steve Mellor and Maxine Fisher are also in action.

There are still a few vacancies in Norden’s Thwaites men’s pairs which starts on Sunday, June 20, and runs for eight successive Sundays. For more details, ring Jean or Steve on (01706) 527219.