Ice-cool Dukinfield save best until last

GOLF:

DUKINFIELD pulled off some last-green heroics to go top of the ‘A’ League East Division.

They were down in three games standing on the last tee, but three times won the hole to grab halves and claim a 5-3 win over Ashton, whose hopes of a vital away victory were dashed.

Denton golfer Matthew Smith discovered the ‘A’ team is a tough school. Making his debut at Fairfield he and partner Joe Nuttall birdied the first three holes and made seven birdies in total, still lost 3&2.

In the West Division, North Manchester produced a surge to win 6-2 at Werneth, to inflict the first defeat of the season on Lee Rowbotham’s team. Werneth’s Tony Doidge holed in one at the 159-yard third but then lost on the last green with partner Adam Rowbotham.

In the ‘B’ League, Stamford’s run finally came to an end after five straight wins in but they remain unbeaten in the East Division despite being held 4-4 at home by improving Saddleworth.

North Manchester opened up a three-point gap at the top of a tight East Division as they beat Werneth 6-2 while joint leaders Blackley were losing 5-3 at Crompton and Royton.

The league takes a break this week for the quarter-finals of the cup.

Fixtures: ‘A’ Cup: Ashton v C&r @Denton; North Manchester v Fairfield @ Werneth; Dukinfield v Blackley @C&R; Saddleworth v Werneth @North Manchester.

‘B’ Cup: Ashton C&R @Blackley; Stamford v Fairfield @Ashton; Denton v Werneth @ Saddleworth; North Manchester v Dukinfield @ Stamford.