Coupe ends wait for crown

BOWLS: SIMON Coupe was beaten 21-20 by John Eccles in the 1991 Waterloo Handicap final and has suffered the heartbreak of several near misses since.

So it was only fitting that the 40-year-old from Preston should finally achieve the ambition his efforts have deserved by winning crown green bowling’s most prestigious prize.

Coupe, a member of Manchester Premier League champions-elect Tonge, was himself a 21-20 winner in yesterday’s final.

And the unlucky bowler on this occasion was his Tonge team-mate Jimmy Derby.

Derby led 20-18 and had one hand on the trophy, but Coupe produced a superb saving bowl and kept his nerve to register victory by the minimum margin.