Hoodoo ends for Griffiths

Photo: PICTURE: GARETH LOWE

Darren Griffiths claimed the Green Final title at the fifth time of asking.

Green Final Bowls:

DARREN Griffiths ended his Green Final Bowling Handicap hoodoo in emphatic style at Moorside on Saturday night.

The Nimble Nook and Tonge star had been a beaten finalist four times in the Evening Chronicle-sponsored competition.

But he made no mistake this time, on a green he clearly loves.

Griffiths overcame his team-mate Matt Gillies 21-15 in a high-quality final which saw the latter hit back from 19-8 down to 19-15.

At that stage, Griffiths must have been thinking of past setbacks in the competition - but when Gillies gave him some room, he pounced to secure a match-winning double.

Gillies did nothing wrong in the final, but was on the wrong end of some crucial hits, particularly at 8-6 down.

After running the jack for two, he saw Griffiths connect with a bowl played with weight which left him with a double.

So what could have been 8-8 ended with Griffiths taking a 10-6 lead. It was to prove the pivotal moment of the final.

With clear daylight, Griffiths piled up the points with a succession of precision leads.