County seeking semi-final tonic

GREATER Manchester will be desperate to produce a morale-boosting victory for their absent team-mates when they take on North Midlands in the Endsleigh County Championship semi-final on Sunday (2pm).

Last Sunday’s M62 minibus crash left three of their ranks injured and each has had to be replaced in Sunday’s teams.

Thomas Dobson and Nicky Brooks were down to play for Manchester in the home leg at the George and Dragon, Hyde. Their places are expected to go to Peter Fielding and John Wade.

And Mark Dwayre will not be making the trip to the away leg at Dunlop BC, Coventry.

His place in the side goes to Springbank’s Mark Garbutt.

At George and Dragon (probable, Manchester names first): Darren Griffiths v Martin Walker; David Walker v Darren Plenderleith; Chris Haynes v Pete Spencer; Lee Turner v Jamie Dunn; Peter Fielding v Noel Bates; Mike Gee v David Smith; Colin Lane v Phil Perry; Matt Gillies v Jim Robertson; Michael Holden v Stuart Nash; John Wade v Alan Belcher; Ryan Goodman v Shane Day; Gareth Gwilliam v Stuart Perry.

At Dunlop BC, Coventry: Jimmy Derby v Steve Pratt; Andy Buckley v Richard Burdett; Gary Ellis v Matt Aspin; Nigel Greenhalgh v Les Haylor; Steve Copeland v Willie Beal; Darren Holt v Anthony Wood; Paul Heap v Barrie Shaw; Mark Garbutt v Leigh Burdett; Colin Price v Kit Kitlinski; Alan Hodson v Mark Burdett; Peter Craig v Brian Pearson; Andy Cairns v Paul Haylor.

o TONGE are 22 points clear of their rivals at the top of the Manchester Premier League after defeating Lower Hopton 10-4.5 (182-162) at home on Wednesday night.

Colin Lane led the way with a 21-5 success, while other Tonge winners were Laurence Hallett (21-19), Steve Squire (21-14), Gary Ellis (21-12), Stuart Mort (21-19), Jonathan Copeland (21-19) and Simon Coupe

(21-11).

Tonge will continue their march to the title when they go to Tottington on Wednesday (7.30pm).

o HEATS continue in the Moorside Classic tonight (6.30pm) when the draw is:

Roy Nicholson v Colin Leishman; Steve Brown v Phil Cookson; Chris Hill v Liam Griffin; Clive Chapman v Phil Wakefield; Jack Hargreaves v Craig Gant; Mike Sweeney v Gareth Nicholson; Larry Wells v Andy Whittaker; Warren Wilson v Gary Cooper.

o THE draw for the quarter-finals of the Oldham Women’s League’s Peter Wild Cup, to be played on Tuesday, is:

Staybridge Rec v Hollinwood Cricket ‘A’ at Dobcross; Springbank ‘A’ v Werneth Cricket ‘A’ at Friezland; Crompton ‘A’ v Royton Cricket ‘A’ at Springhead; Church Inn v Waterhead at Springbank.

o FIRST Timers have won the Oldham Veterans’ Summer Indoor Bowling League title, with Lower Failsworth runners-up.

Latest results:

First Timers 13, Firth Steel 8; Graduates 16, Wobblers 7; Green team 14, Bank top 10; Wetherspoons 10, Moorside 11; Simpson Memorial 16, Drifters 9; Lower Failsworth 11, British Aerospace 10.