Winning Griffin form

got back in to finish it off.”

Dyson, who qualified through his Sigsworth Trophy victory, beat Conservative Merit winner Rob Cox in the first round 21-16, before knocking out President’s Cup winner Andrew Wike to 14 to reach the semi-finals.

“Rob played exceptionally well, finding some killer bowls, and he could easily have won, but I kept hanging on,” explained Dyson.

“He had a lot of vocal support, so it was really nice to get through, and then I fell behind against Andrew Wike, who has been in really good form towards the end of the season.

“Andrew plays 21 metres at most, so I stretched the game to the full diagonal when I got chance, threw him in the corners and he lost his length a bit.”

Dyson makes no bones that his “bit of history” with Crosland Moor’s Mark Atkinson – the Huddersfield Merit champion – was a driving force in the semi-finals this time.

“Mark did me 21-20 in the semi-finals in 2010, when he went on to lose to Scott Fisher, and then again last year when he was runner-up to Gareth Coates,” said Dyson.

“I also lost in the semis to John Greenhalgh the year he won it (2015), so I just thought to myself it was time I got my own back!

“Mark got in front by four or five by throwing me in the corners, so when I got in I shortened the game down and managed to get ahead.

“I won to 18, but we both played pretty well and it was a very close game.”

Having won the final against Fox, who knocked out Ashley Daykin in the first round, Dyson is now looking forward to the winter season at the Griffin.

“It was nice to round off what’s been a good season for me with the Champion of Champions,” he said.

“I think the fact I have a good record at Marsh United helped ease me through a bit, because I know the green as well as anyone really, but it was nice to tick off another title to round off the year.” Final results:

Rob Wiltshire (Dearne & Don Merit) 21 Tony Clegg (Veterans Rosebowl) 7, Jack Wareing (Summer Handicap) 21 Carl Allen (Jack Burgin Trophy) 14, James Hick (Huddersfield Junior Merit) 21 Tom Graham (Vic Sugden) 17, Ashley Daykin (Spring Handicap) 9 Dave Fox (Works Handicap) 21, Lewis Cooper (Yorkshire Junior Merit) 12 Mark Atkinson (Huddersfield Merit) 21, Paul Ingleby (Colne Valley Merit) 21 Callum Wadsworth (Autumn Handicap) 6, Liam Fallas (Liberal Merit) 13 Andrew Wike (President’s Cup) 21, Rob Cox (Conservative Merit) 16 Jack Dyson (Sigsworth Trophy) 21.