Lethal Lee in the mood to go one better

BOWLS:

LEE Schofield, the beaten finalist two seasons ago, is determined to go one better in this year's Oldham Evening Chronicle Bowling Handicap.

The Friezland player booked his place in this year's finals with an excellent display at Stanley Road last night. Torrential rain washed out any chance of play on Friday, but the players agreed to gather last night and Schofield beat Nimble Nook's Matt Gillies – another former beaten finalist – 21-11 in the third round.

Earlier, Schofield had seen off Ian Howarth (Delph) 21-18 and Ian Gorbutt (Royton) 21-9. Alan Hodson (Springbank), the champion in 2008, is safely through to finals night after qualifying at Nimble Nook.

It looked bleak for Hodson when he trailed 18-11 against Lee Lawton (Waterloo and Taunton), and his prospects took an even greater nosedive when Lawton lay to go all-but with a six-inch bowl and another no more than two foot from the jack. But Hodson – with the help of a slight deflection – beat both and never looked back on the way to a 21-19 first-round victory.

With the bit between his teeth, Hodson went on to beat Colin Bradbury (Springhead) 21-15 and Graham Flint (North Chadderton) 21-8.




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