Ellis’s Houdini act in clash of big guns

TROPHY TIME . . . individual winners and captains of winning teams show off their silverware at the Mary Plant Darts League presentation at North Chadderton Bowling Club.

BOWLS: GARY Ellis (Nimble Nook and Tonge) landed the £700 top prize in the Carlsberg Open at Heckmondwike following a titanic struggle with Graeme Wilson, his rival for the tag of crown green bowling’s number one player.

Former Oldhamer Wilson, playing superbly, led 17-7 and 20-14 in the final.

But Ellis, showing his usual never-say-die attitude, pounced along an edge to produce the three doubles and single he needed for a memorable victory.

Earlier, Ellis had beaten Liverpool’s Mike Tunstall 21-9 and Halifax’s Graham Hickey 21-10 to book his ticket to the final.

Wilson, meanwhile, defeated Nook’s Andrew Buckley 21-14 in the last four.

There was better luck for Wilson in the final of the Dobbies Open at Radcliffe.

He beat Shropshire’s Callum Wraight 21-20 in an excellent final, having earlier defeated Springbank’s Steve Copeland 21-14. Wraight defeated Ellis 21-18 in the semi-finals.


HEATS have been completed in the Greater Manchester Merit at Middleton Conservative Club.
The draw for the finals is Ryan Bancroft v Greg Ellis; Martin Hodson v Jimmy Derby; Matt O’Neill v Tony Mellor; Clive Chapman v Matt Gillies; Darren Griffiths v John Hall; Gareth Gwilliam v Alan Hodson; Gary Ellis v Paul Dudley; Mike Gee v Dave Walker. The finals will be on Saturday, June 25 (12.30pm)


GREATER Manchester women take on Lancashire on Sunday week, June 26 (2pm) when the home venue is Irlam Conservative Club.
Local players in action at Irlam are Diane Bower (Oldham RU), Alma Tickle and Janelle Pertoldi (Springbank), Michelle Renshaw (Werneth), Rachel Fish and Karen Houlston (Delph).

In the Greater Manchester away team at Ainsdale BC are Eileen Dawson (Delph) and Christine Kewley (Springbank).