County set slip to heavy defeat

BOWLS: GREATER Manchester’s bowlers suffered a shock 48-chalks defeat at the hands of Yorkshire in Sunday’s County Championship semi-final.

The damage was done at the home venue of Stalybridge Rec, where Yorkshire had seven winners for an aggregate success of 36.

Away from home, at Almondbury BC, Huddersfield, Manchester fared well to lose by just 12 chalks.

Best performers for Manchester at Stalybridge were man-of-the-match Matt Jones (21-8) and Chadderton teenager Jonathan Copeland (21-14).

Away from home, there were particularly good wins for Andrew Buckley (21-11), Steve Squire (21-16), Steve Copeland (21-13) and Gary Ellis (21-8).