Tonge’s title slipping away

TONGE look booked for the runners-up spot in the Manchester Premier League.

The reigning champions won their home match against the Nursery Inn, Stockport, 10-4.5 (193-165), but leaders St Joseph’s of Chorley won 15-2 at Tottington to virtually clinch the title.

Winners for Tonge were Matt Gillies (21-20), Jimmy Derby (21-9), Colin Lane

(21-15), Thomas Dobson (21-17), Darren Griffiths (21-9), Steve Squire (21-14) and Graham Hickey (21-18).


HEATS continue in the Tonge Classic on Sunday (7pm) when the players involved are Simon Cawley, Alan Hodson, Alan Hill, Paul Bailey, Grant Eckersley, Keith McHugh, Phil Cookson, Kieren O’Prey, Matt Dwyer, Alec Byrnes, Dave O’Brien, Garry Coverdale, Roger Crowther, Andrew Marshall, Rob Jordan, Matt O’Neill.


FIRST heats in the Delph Open, sponsored by Harold Stock and Co. and the Old Bell Inn, Delph, get under way tonight (6.30pm) when the players involved include Greater Manchester county men Andrew Buckley, Darren Griffiths, Steve Leach, Darren Holt and Roger Crowther, plus Yorkshire aces Ian Briggs and Kieran O’Prey.


STANLEY Road’s Maurice Foskett and Springbank’s Peter Guilfoyle have reached the last 16 of the Solar Choice men’s singles at Norden BC, Rochdale.
Foskett booked his place with a 21-6 second-round verdict against Rochdale’s Gerry Carson, while Guilfoyle saw off another Rochdale player, Allan Dewhurst, 21-13.

Heats continue on Sunday (6pm).