Wilf is king of the corners

BOWLS:

WILF Flanagan booked his first appearance in the finals of the Green Final Bowling Handicap – and ended the hopes of defending champion Alan Hodson.

Flanagan (Stanley Road) played superbly, particularly in the corners, to qualify with three victories at Nimble Nook.

After beating Royton's Keith Gledhill 21-16 in the first round, he overcame Hodson 21-16 and followed that up with another 21-16 verdict against Hodson's Springbank team-mate Wilf McDermott.

Nimble Nook's Darren Griffiths has never won the competition despite three appearances in the final, but perhaps this is to be his year after he survived a 21-20 scare against Neil Armstrong (St Paul's).

Griffiths had earlier overcome Jim Halliwell 21-12 and Don Rae 21-17.

Royton saw a comfortable passage to the finals for 2011 champion Brian Raynor (Chadderton Cot).

After defeating Pat Gleave 21-15, Raynor was immaculate in the corners against Nimble Nook's Bob Nisbet, one of the competition's main organisers and committee member.

Nisbet had reached the third round thanks to a 21-9 verdict over Bob Barber and 21-20 thriller against Darren Mountford.

Moorside's qualifier was played yesterday after Friday's rain left the green under water.

And North Chadderton's John Ashton showed the delay had not affected him by cruising through a tough draw.

After overcoming Peter Guilfoyle 21-9, Ashton defeated Peter Gartside 21-15 and Colin Lane 21-12.