Handicap under starter’s orders
Date published: 06 June 2014
LAST Year’s Green Final winner Darren Griffiths
BOWLS: THIS year’s Green Final Bowling Handicap gets underway tonight with action at four venues and plenty of players with success in the competition on show.
Leading the way in the prestigious Oldham Evening Chronicle-sponsored tournament is defending champion Darren Griffiths, who will play at Royton and is penalised two chalks for winning last year.
Also in action at the Paddock green are two-time champion Neil Armstrong (St Paul’s) and Peter Fielding (Syke), a runner-up in the tournament.
David Carpenter, the winner of the “water splash” final of 1997, will make his challenge at Nimble Nook, where 2004 winner Mark Dwayre (Royton) and dual champion Alan Hodson (Springbank) are also on show.
Brian Raynor (Chadderton Cot), the 2011 champion, launches his challenge at Moorside, along with Keith McHugh (Hopwood), runner-up in 2009.
And Crompton sees several fancied contenders taking part, including former semi-finalist Paul Heap (Springbank).
Matches start at 7pm, with practice from 6.30pm.
Venues and players —
CROMPTON: S Fielding, handicap 2 (Friezland); J Mountford 4 (Moorside); P Gleave 3, S Mellor 2, M Fisher 5 (Nimble Nook); K Gledhill 3 (Royton Cricket); P Heap 2 (Springbank); D Rae 4 (Uppermill);
MOORSIDE: D Hibbert 4 (Ashton Cricket); B Raynor 4 (Cot); N Lees 4 (Dobcross); K McHugh 2 (Hopwood); C Kewley 5, F Cassidy 2 (Nimble Nook); B Cooper 5 (Royton Cricket); L Kewley 3 (Springbank).
NIMBLE NOOK: D Carpenter 3 (Delph); M Allingan 4 (Moorside); J Rudkin 4 (Newton Heath WMC); M Dwayre 2, B Gledhill 2, Z Stott 2 (Royton Cricket); A Hodson 2, W McDermott 2 (Springbank);
ROYTON CRICKET: S Cawley 2 (Friezland); M Foskett 2, D Griffiths (scr), A Smallwood 4, E Worthington 2 (Nimble Nook); C Bradbury 3 (Springhead Libs); N Armstrong 3 (St Paul’s); P Fielding 2 (Syke).
TONGE had a fine 13.5-3 (188-152) victory at Huddersfield side Longwood in the Manchester Premier League.
Gary Ellis and Darren Griffiths led the way with 21-8 wins away from home.
There were also positive results for Gary Smith (21-11), Jonathan Copeland (21-14), Jimmy Derby (21-15), Steve Squire (21-15) and Nicky Brooks (21-18).
