Determined Darren standing in the way

BOWLS:

CHRISTINE Kewley, one of several women in this year’s Oldham Evening Chronicle Bowling Handicap, has the daunting task of trying to stop a man on a mission.

Nimble Nook’s Darren Griffiths, one of Greater Manchester’s finest players and the winner of many top competitions, has never won the Chronicle title and is determined to put that right.

He looked set to end his wait when leading Peter Craig in last year’s final, but he was pipped on the post yet again.

Griffiths opens against county player Kewley — who receives four chalks start — at Royton tonight when a high-class card also features 2008 champion Alan Hodson.

Delph is tonight’s other venue, where the pick of the first-round ties is the clash of Paul Heap, a beaten semi-finalist last year, and Neil Armstrong, the competition winner in 1987 and 1991.

Play at both venues gets under way at 6.30pm, with practice from 6pm. Host clubs are asked to ensure that match jacks, measures and long tapes are available.


DELPH

W McDermott (Springbank) 2 v R Nisbet (Nimble Nook) 3; P Clough (Dunwood Park) 4 v R Horrocks (Crompton) 4; M Fisher (Nimble Nook) 5 v L Schofield (North Chadderton) 3; P Heap (Springbank) 2 v N Armstrong (St Pauls) 4.

A Bidwell (Springbank) 2 v M Gillies (Nimble Nook) 2; M Holden (Syke) 2 v J Ashton (North Chadderton) 3; A Smallwood (Nimble Nook) 4 v C Bradbury (Springhead Libs) 3; D Crabtree (Tonge) 2 v S Mellor (Nimble Nook) 3.


ROYTON


R Gaskell (Hollinwood Cricket) 3 v B Seville (Nimble Nook) 3; D Griffiths (Nimble Nook) 1 v C Kewley (Springbank) 5; D Rae (Uppermill) 4 v J Thompson (Syke) 2; T Gowers (Springbank) 4 v C Wilson (unatt) 5.

L Kewley (Springbank) 4 v B Raynor (Chadderton Cot) 4; S Bentley (North Chadderton) 4 v T Copeland (unatt) 4; D Williams (Chadderton Hall Park) 4 v J Wade (Syke) 2; A Hodson (Springbank) 2 v J Copeland (Nimble Nook) 2.


TONGE strengthened their grip on the Manchester Premier League title race with a fine 13.5-3 (199-144) victory at the Railway Hotel, Congleton.

Jimmy Derby (21-4) and Gary Ellis (21-5) led the way for Tonge, while 18-year-old Jonathan Copeland had a fine 21-18 victory over the highly-rated Chris MacDonald.

Other Tonge winners were Thomas Dobson (21-8), Stuart Mort (21-12), Matt Gillies (21-15) and Darren Griffiths (21-19).

Tonge’s next match is at home to Richmond on Wednesday (7.30pm).


FOUR Oldham-based players were successful as Greater Manchester women beat their South Staffordshire counterparts by 24 chalks.

Diane Bowker (Oldham RU) won 21-15, Joan Horton (Diggle) had a 21-19 victory, while Janelle Pertoldi and Christine Kewley (Springbank) registered 21-19 and 21-20 verdicts.

Manchester’s next game is on Sunday, June 27 against Cheshire.


GREATER Manchester juniors take on Yorkshire on Sunday (2pm) at Hopwood Unionist Club, Heywood.


The draw is:

At Hopwood (Greater Manchester names first): Nick Turrell v Jake Durham; Daniel Warrington v Neil Wood; James Hynes v Savo Morrison; Sarah Vincent v Alicia Ormsby; Richard Pertoldi v Nathan Conlon; Jonathan Pertoldi v Jordan Crabtree; Jonathan Copeland v Paul Wilcznski; Sophie Stockton v Jack Summers; Michael Shore v Joseph Cranston; Jonathan Stockton v Jonathan Peacock; Tom Eccles v Danny Revell; Kyle Kirkby v Jon Wood

At Kirkheaton BC, Huddersfield: Jack Hargreaves v Josh Brown; Ryan Bancroft v Nathan Haigh; James Jones v Harry Lamb; Jordan Barker v David Ryding; Reserve v Luke Peacock; Christopher Crowther v Rhys Beaumont; Reserve v Robert Hopper; Matthew Sands v Ashley Southwell; Jack Holland v Finley Hickey; Amanda Ridley v Aiden Fox; Ben Gloag v Robert Wainborough; Daniel Sands v Danny Kilburn.


CHADDERTON’S Colin Lane and Failsworth’s Lee Lawton are on the bill in the Royle Classic in Rochdale tomorrow (6pm).

Last week’s finals night qualifier was Rochdale’s John Wade.

LATEST results in the Oldham Veterans Summer Indoor Bowling League:

First Timers 17, Green Team 14; Higher Failsworth 6, Moorside 14; Drifters 13, British Aerospace 5; Lower Failsworth 20, Firth Steel 5; Graduates 6, Bank Top 12; Wetherspoons 7, Wobblers 8.