Barbara shocks men to book place in finals

Matt Gillies

BARBARA Cooper struck a blow for the ladies when she qualified for the finals of the Oldham Evening Chronicle Bowling Handicap with three excellent victories at Nimble Nook on Friday night.

She opened with a 21-13 defeat of Steve Bolton before surviving a spirited fightback from Phil Biram - who trailed 15-6 - to scrape through 21-20.

And she clinched her place on finals night at North Chadderton Social and Bowling Club on Saturday, July 9, with a 21-17 verdict against Alan Bidwell.

Cooper led 18-9, but Bidwell fought back to 17-20 before the lady bowler clinched victory with a fine first bowl at the last end.

Elesewhere, Greater Manchester stars and Nimble Nook pairs partners Andrew Buckley and Darren Griffiths booked their ticket to the last eight.

Buckley, twice the competition champion, is in line for a third success after coming through at Delph.

The county's home team captain beat Alf Smallwood 21-16 before edging home 21-20 against Barry Sowerby and defeating last year's beaten finalist, Lee Schofield, 21-11.

Griffiths, to the surprise of many, has yet to win this prestigious competition – perhaps this could be his year.

He had few major alarms in qualifying at Crompton, seeing off George Shaw 21-11, John Ashton 21-16 and Greater Manchester team-mate Mike Holden 21-15.

The fourth and final winner on the first of two qualifying nights was John Rudkin, who won his three games at Royton.

Rudkin had a tough first-round battle in overcoming Barry Seville 21-19, but was more comfortable in defeating Stuart Schofield 21-12 and Christine Kewley 21-15.

Results - see Chronicle