Local stars on County parade

Bowls: GREATER Manchester continue their pursuit of County Championship glory on Sunday when they take on Merseyside (2pm).

Hopwood Unionist Club in Heywood is the home venue and there is lots of local interest.

Draw:

At Hopwood (Manchester names first): Darren Griffiths v John Hignett Jnr; Andy Buckley v John Finch; Matthew Jones v Danny Barwise; Matt Gillies v Dave McDermott; Jonathan Copeland v Terry Glover; Paul Heap v Chris Barton; John Wade v Mick Andrews; Michael Holden v Phil Lee; Nick Brooks v Cliff Massey; Mark Dwayre v Jamie Fitzpatrick; Alan Hodson v Anthony Thompson; Peter Craig v Nick Burridge.

At British Plate BC, St Helens: Jimmy Derby v Kevin Kearns; Andy Cairns v Andy Hayes; Nigel Greenhalgh v Brian Furber; Mike Gee v Steve Davies; Lee Turner v John Dalziel; David Walker v Mark Furber; Steve Copeland v Alan Moss; Jack Hargreaves v Alan Rolls; Ryan Goodman v Harvey Birch; Chris Haynes v Mike Tunstall; Gareth Gwilliam v Liam McEgan; Gary Ellis v Paul Gartside.


GARETH Gwilliam (Hyde) beat Peter Fielding (Rochdale) 21-6 in the final of the Greater Manchester Merit at Chandos BC, Salford.

Losing semi-finalists were Alan Bidwell (Springbank) and Greg Ellis (Tonge).


GREATER Manchester women defeated their Cheshire counterparts by a single chalk.
Local winners in the home leg at Irlam were Oldham RU’s Diane Bowker (21-15), Delph’s Karen Houlston (21-18) and Rachel Fish (21-16).

Manchester’s next game is against North Shropshire on July 25.




TONGE have one hand on the Manchester Premier League winners’ trophy following their 12-1.5 (200-148) victory over St Joseph’s.

Gary Ellis led the way with a 21-6 victory, while there were also wins for Steve Squire (21-14), Laurence Hallett (21-13), Andrew Cairns (21-19), Jimmy Derby (21-10), Darren Griffiths (21-15), Thomas Dobson (21-18), Stuart Mort (21-17) and Simon Coupe (21-15).

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



THE quarter-final draw for the Saddleworth Bowling League’s Law Swallow Cup is:

Waterloo ‘A’ (handicap 1) v Crompton ‘A’ (2) at Friezland; Springhead Libs ‘A’ (8), Whitworth ‘B’ (28) at Springbank; Church Inn (15)m Springbank ‘A’ (3) at Springhead; Springhead Libs ‘B’ (68), High Crompton (36) at Delph CC.

Ties to take place on Saturday, July 10 (2.30pm). Host club to provide jacks and measuring tape.




BARRY Seville and Steve Mellor carry Oldham hopes in the latest heats of the Thwaites men’s pairs at Norden on Sunday (5.30pm).



LATEST results in the Oldham Veterans’ Summer Indoor Bowling League are:

Simpson Memorial 9, Wetherspoons 15; Graduates 7, British Aerospace 17; Higher Failsworth 8, Bank Top 7; First Timers 14, Wobblers 6; Green team 10, Firth Steel 15; Lower Failsworth 16, Moorside 6.