County team’s challenge over

Oldham member of the GM bowling team Andy Buckley

BOWLS:

GREATER Manchester has bowed out of the Endsleigh County Championship, losing their final group game against Warwick and Worcester by 53 chalks.

Manchester won by two chalks at their home venue of the North’s, Hyde, but succumbed by 55 at Moor Lane BC, Birmingham.



GREATER Manchester women beat Mid-Cheshire by 28 chalks.

Local players in the side which won by 18 chalks away from home were Margaret Brooks (21-15), Alma Tickle (21-18), Diane Fish (21-14), Rachel Fish (21-17) and Chris Kewley (21-9).



TONGE’S Gary Ellis may have made a slow start to the season by his own high standards, but he made it two majors wins in three weeks with the top prize in the £5,485 John Smith’s Classic at Cleckheaton.

Recent winner of the Greater Manchester Merit, Ellis fought back from 20-14 down against Radcliffe’s Paul Dudley to win the final 21-20.

Ellis’s Tonge team-mate, Jimmy Derby, was also in the money at the weekend, landing the £700 winner’s cheque in the Metro Sports Open in Stretford. Derby beat Sheffield’s Chris Brown 21-15 in a high-quality final.