Ellis closes in on title

BOWLS: GARY Ellis was a hot favourite to land his fourth Osprey Waterloo Handicap title in Blackpool today.

Barring his way to a semi-final place was his Tonge teammate and friend, Jimmy Derby.

Ellis overwhelmed Sheffield’s Ryan Clark 21-7 in the last 16, while Derby survived a 21-20 thriller against Preston’s Simon Coupe, the man who beat him in the 2010 final and a player keen to win the Waterloo title for the third year in a row.

Springbank’s Steve Copeland fell in the last 16, beaten 21-12 by Warrington ace Tommy Johnstone.

The matches began at 10am this morning.


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