Away riches lift county

GREATER Manchester overwhelmed an outclassed North Midlands side to reach the final of the Endsleigh County Championship.

Featuring several local players, Manchester won by 27 chalks at their home venue of the George and Dragon, Hyde.

But it was the away performers who did the most damage, racking up nine winners out of 12 for a 77-chalks success and an overall aggregate win of 104.

John Wade, who recovered from 13-1 down to win 21-16, was voted the home man of the match for Greater Manchester for whom Rochdale’s Darren Holt won on his county debut in the away leg.

Scores:

At George and Dragon: Darren Griffiths 17, Martin Walker 21; David Walker 21, Darren Plenderleith 18; Chris Haynes 21, Pete Spencer 16; Lee Turner 21, Jamie Dunn 13; John Wade 21, Noel Bates 16; Mike Gee 15, David Smith 21; Colin Lane 21, Phil Perry 13; Matt Gillies 21, Jim Robertson 13; Michael Holden 21, Stuart Nash 13; Tony Mellor 13, Alan Belcher 21; Ryan Goodman 15, Shane Day 21; Gareth Gwilliam 21, Stuart Perry 15.

At Dunlop No 1, Coventry: Jimmy Derby 21, Steve Pratt 17; Andy Buckley 21, Richard Burdett 17; Gary Ellis 21, Matt Aspin 10; Nigel Greenhalgh 21, Les Haylor 13; Steve Copeland 21, Willie Beal 14; Darren Holt 21, Anthony Wood 12; Paul Heap 21, Barrie Shaw 12; Mark Garbett 11, Leigh Burdett 21; Colin Price 21, Kit Kitlinski 12; Alan Hodson 21, Mark Burdett 13; Peter Craig 15, Brian Pearson 21; Andy Cairns 16, Paul Haylor 21.

Greater Manchester will take on Warwick and Worcester in the final on Sunday, September 5.

THE semi-finals and finals of the Chadderton League’s Swallow Cup will be held on Sunday (10am) at North Chadderton Social and Bowling Club when the teams in action are Church Inn 'B', Crompton, Nimble Nook 'B' and Royton Cricket 'A'

MORE bowls results in tomorrow night’s Oldham Evening Chronicle.