Derby leads Tonge charge

BOWLS:

JIMMY Derby led the way with a stunning 21-2 triumph as Tonge extended their lead at the top of the Manchester Premier League table to 19 points thanks to a 13.5-3 (189-152) victory at Sale XL.

Other Tonge winners were Andy Cairns (21-17), Gary Ellis (21-20), Simon Coupe (21-6), Darren Griffiths (21-16), Stuart Mort (21-16) and Thomas Dobson (21-12).

Tonge entertain Chorley outfit St Joseph’s next Wednesday (7.30pm).


JIMMY Hynes and Paul Heap (Springbank), Andrew Buckley (Nimble Nook) and Garry Coverdale (North Chadderton) are among the 16 players chasing a top prize of £500 in the J W Lees Classic at Hopwood Unionist Club, Heywood, on Sunday (2pm).

Draw: A Whittaker v J Hynes; G Gwilliam v M Foster; M Holden v A Cairns; R Crowther v S Mort; B Sowerby v A Buckley; P Craig v P Heap; N Webster v G Ellis; T Batchelder v G Coverdale.


THE eight finalists in the Failsworth League’s President’s Handicap at Waterloo and Taunton on Sunday (noon start and strike-out, no practice) are:

Jack Lewis, handicap 8 (Werneth Cricket), John McNulty, 8 (Dog and Partridge), Mike Smith, 2 (High Crompton), Brian Firman, 6 (HMSO), Paul Heap, 2 (Springbank), Martin Hodson, 2 (Springbank), Barry Seville, 2 (North Chadderton), Mike Coleman, 8 (Phoenix).


PLACES in the All-England Merit and Champion of Champions’ tournament in Blackpool are up for grabs tomorrow (11am) when the finals of the Greater Manchester Merit will be held at Chandos BC, Salford.




ROCHDALE’S Darren Holt is the latest qualifier for finals night in the Royle Classic in Rochdale.

He opened with a 21-18 defeat of last year’s winner, Matt Gillies and followed by beating Gillies’ Nimble Nook team-mate Jimmy Derby 21-13.

Holt made it through to the finals thanks to a 21-16 verdict against Cheshire’s John Hambleton.

Tomorrow’s card, which gets under way at 6pm, includes Springbank’s Alan Hodson.


PAUL Heap (Springbank) and Nicky Brooks (Tonge) team up in the Thwaites men’s pairs at Norden BC on Sunday (5.30pm).


LATEST results in the Oldham Veterans’ Summer Indoor League:

Simpson Memorial 9, Moorside 13; Firth Steel 9, Graduates 9; Green Team 9, British Aerospace 12; First Timers 10, Hr Failsworth 6; Wetherspoons 15, Bank Top 9; Drifters 4, Wobblers 12.