Holders upset by new boys Blackley

GOLF:

BLACKLEY ‘B’ pulled off the shock of the round in the Oldham and District Knockout Cup when they beat holders Denton ‘A’ 3-2 at Crompton and Royton.

Among seven new sides in the league this season, they notched their first win of the campaign the previous week at their fifth attempt and kept up that good form to defeat Lee Merson’s more experienced Denton outfit.

And another of the new teams, Gary Melling’s Crompton and Royton ‘A’, also accounted for an established side in Oldham ‘A’ when they came out on top 3-2 at Werneth.

Werneth’s ‘A’ had some big hitters in their line-up and that proved decisive as they swept aside Oldham ‘B’ 3.5-1.5, but it would have been closer had Lee Rowbotham and James Buckley not eagled the par-five last for a half with Steve Hunt and Stuart Wagstaff.
Former Werneth golfer Bob Barrington did earn some bragging rights by claiming a win alongside Alex Simmons with a last-green success over close friends Steve McNamara and Duncan Hough.

And Charlie Walker and Duncan Midgley also held their nerve for a last-green win in the deciding match as Saddleworth ‘B’ edged their Ashton counterparts at Oldham.

Knockout Cup first round results —

North Manchester ‘A’ 3, Denton ‘B’ 2 at Blackley: North ‘A’: T Modlinsky and D Herbert (4&23), P Wrigley and N McGrath (1up), A Hooson and R Bradley (5&4). Denton ‘B’: S Merson and N Ashton (19th), S Jenkinson and L Hewson (1 up).

Werneth ‘A’ 3.5, Oldham ‘B’ 1.5 at Saddleworth: Werneth ‘A’: John Suttie and Adam Rowbotham (3&2), Paul Rowbotham and Geoff Dawson (3&2), Mark Abbott and Jonathan Wilde (5&4), Lee Rowbotham and James Buckley (halved). Oldham ‘B’: Alex Simmons and Bob Barrington (1 up), Steve Hunt and Stuart Wagstaff (halved).

Oldham ‘A’ 2, C&R ‘A’ 3 at Werneth: Oldham ‘A’: (late scorers): C&R ‘A’: Mike Gazey and Andy Allen (3&2), Andy Hirst and Andy Frizzell (3&1), Gary Melling and Mike Shaw (2up).

Brookdale ‘B’ 1, Brookdale ‘A’4 at Brookdale: Brookdale ‘B’: (late scorers). Brookdale ‘A’: Pete Buckley and Paul Fry (1 up), Mark Riley and Eric Hyland (2&1), Doug Jones and Mark Morrow (4&3), Gary Lever and Brad Keeling (3&2).

Ashton ‘B’ 2, Saddleworth ‘B’ 3 at Oldham: Ashton ‘B’: Ian Duncan and Paul Brunt (won), Les Gibson and Barry Preece (won). Saddleworth ‘B’: Frank Pullen and Iain Cash (2&1), Dave Fox and Graham Hobbs (4&3), Charlie Walker and Duncan Midgley (1up).

Blackley ‘A 2 Stamford ‘A’ 3 at Denton: Blackley ‘A’: D Tickle and A White (5&4), M Ruddy and G Morris (1up). Stamford ‘A’: Stuart Fletcher and Chris Houfe (3&2), Tony Cavanagh and James Woodcock (3&2), Mark Smith and Kevin Duffy (3&2).

Denton ‘A’ 2, Blackley ‘B’ 3 at C&R

Werneth ‘B’ 3, Stamford ‘B’ 2 at North Manchester