Lane shines as Greater Manchester regain title

GREATER Manchester regained the British County Championship title with an authoritative 50-chalks defeat of Derbyshire yesterday.

They had nine winners in a 32-chalks success at the home venue of Hopwood Unionist Club, Heywood, while the away team surpassed expectations by registering an 18-points win at Ashbourne BC.

Colin Lane led the way at Hopwood with a superb 21-4 victory, while there were also wins for his Tonge team-mates Darren Griffiths (the home team man of the match), Matt Gillies and Nicky Brooks.

But just as crucial were the fightbacks from home-team skipper Andrew Buckley and Mike Holden, who were both well behind before showing their battling qualities.

Highlights of a superb away-team performance were convincing wins from Hopwood's Ryan Goodman, Grapes' David Walker and Colin Price, and a fine victory against a top opponent from Tonge's Gary Ellis.

At Hopwood (Manchester names first): Darren Griffiths 21 John Hambleton 9; Matt Gillies 21 Brian Hill 19; Chris Heyes 12, Dale Spragg 21; Andy Buckley 21, Jon Guess 18; Paul Heap 12, Mark Whelan 21; Andrew Lowe 21, David May 20; Colin Lane 21, Mac Backhouse 4; Nicky Brooks 21, Paul Mottram 17; Mike Holden 21, Paul Stretton 19; John Wade 21, Andy Milsom 13; Peter Craig 21, Darren Smith 11; Mark Dwayre 12, Andy Spragg 21. Manchester 225, Derbyshire 193.

At Ashbourne (Derbyshire names first): Steve Adams 21, Jimmy Derby 20; Dave Allsop 21, Andrew Cairns 13; Andy Fearn 21, Nigel Greenhalgh 20; Richard Goldby 12, David Walker 21; Darren Carter 21, Steve Copeland 18; Matt Kelly-Walley 21, David Thornley 19; Neil Worthington 21, Mike Gee 17; Brian Smith 9, Ryan Goodman 21; Paul Chamberlain 18, Gary Ellis 21; Calvin Jackson 10, Colin Price 21; Simon Mills 11, Gareth Gwilliam 21; John Dewey 21, Lee Turner 13. Derbyshire 207, Manchester 225.