Silver lining at Springbank

Chairman Wilf McDermott (centre front) with winners at Springbank Bowling Club, Chadderton

SPRINGBANK Bowling Club are celebrating a season of unprecedented success.

Despite strong opposition from the likes of Nimble Nook, Waterloo and Taunton, Meltham and Hopwood, Springbank lifted the Chadderton League ‘A’ Division title for the first time since 1944.

And, for good measure, they added the same league’s Swallow Cup to complete a superb double.

Not content with that, Springbank won the Tameside League’s Premier Division title at the first time of asking.

But arguably their greatest achievement came right at the end of the season when they won the Manchester Premier Cup, beating red-hot favourites Tonge in the final to book their place in next year’s British Championship at Irlam Steel.

There were also honours on the pairs and individual front.

Ged Smedley and Dave O’Brien teamed up to win the Chadderton League pairs, while Alan Hodson won the Failsworth League’s President’s Cup and was runner-up in the same league’s Merit.

The latter said: “Everybody has really stepped up this year.

“It’s been a great team effort with most of the players improving on their number of wins from recent seasons.”