Takes Wrathall title again

THE bookies’ first and second favourites met in the final of the Lindley £2000 competition.

Last year’s winner, Graeme Wilson, came out on top against Huddersfield Merit winner, Josh Brown, 21-19.

In a thrilling final played in front of a large crowd on a tricky green, more like glass than grass, Wilson’s perseverance to play the corners paid off.

Brown went into a 16-8 lead by playing short round peg marks and further increased his lead to 19-13, but on the 26th end Wilson got in and with three pairs and a couple of singles won an exciting game.

In the first round Brown accounted for David Scott 21-12 and then saw off James Martin 21-9.

Wilson’s liking for the corners paid off against Steve Gilroy 21-10, and he then beat Paul Bailey 21-9 to reach the final. won 15-6. Homester Billy Jakeman (1) just lost out in a great match with Gough (2), losing 15-13.

In the last match of the quarters homesters and teammates Sophie McCaffrey and Miles Hirst played each other. Experienced McCaffrey won 15-6.

In the semi-finals both Ethan and Joshua had good wins, against Megan and Sophie, 15-4 and 15-9.

But the final was a one-man show as Wareing collected his second junior title of the season, 15-4.

Junior president Mick Haigh presented the trophy to Ethan. Junior secretary Geoff Martin thanked referee Norma Maxwell, competition secretary Yeolande Sykes, Mel Swallow for the food and sponsors, Frank and Jean Wrathall, along with Brockholes.

Megan Beresford (Marsh Lib) (4) 15 Bailey Peacock (Marsh Lib) (5) 9; Ethan Wareing (Kirkheaton Con) (scr) 15 Ethan Hick (Almondbury Lib) (3) 6; Billy Jakeman (Brockholes BC) (1) 13 Joshua Gough (Marsh Lib) (2) 15; Sophie McCaffrey (Brockholes BC) (scr) 15 Miles Hirst (Brockholes BC) (3) 6.

Megan Beresford (Marsh Lib) (4) 4 Ethan Wareing (Kirkheaton Con) (scr) 15; Joshua Gough (Marsh Lib) (2) 15 Sophie McCaffrey (Brockholes BC) (scr) 9.

Ethan Wareing (Kirkheaton Con) (scr) 15 Joshua Gough (Marsh Lib) (2) 4. RACHEL Picavey and Derek Hewitt from Cowcliffe Lib retained the Liberal League John Carstairs Memorial Mixed Pairs Final.

Sponsored and hosted by Primrose Hill Lib, they took the £160 top prize from a fund of £400 with a 21-18 victory over Julie Robson and Michael Haigh of Marsh Lib.

On a lightning fast and concrete green, 16 players struggled to cope with the conditions in the early stages.

Mother and son Yvonne and Andrew Heaume from Almondbury Lib beat Meltham Lib pairing Irene Crowther and Frank Wrathall 21-8.

Hewitt and Picavey beat their clubmates from Cowcliffe Lib Steve Cameron and Debbie Farrar 21-16 to go through, while Damien Balderson, playing against his mum and dad, Diane and Trevor

The prizes were presented by Debbie Little of Travel Counsellors and Michael Foster of Gardinia.

John Allen, organiser of the competition, was MC.

Full scorecard: David Scott 12 Josh Brown 21, James Martin 21 Liam Griffin 12, Paul Bailey 21 Neil Slattery 5, Graeme Wilson 21 Steve Gilroy 10.

Semi-finals: Brown 21 Martin 9, Bailey 9 Wilson 21.

Final: Brown19 Wilson 21. Balderson, along with partner Eileen Johnson, played out of their skins to record a 21-3 win.

In the last game of the quarter-finals, a two-hour marathon resulted in Marsh Lib’s Haigh and Robson just beating Golcar Lib pairing Nigel and Janet Bennett 21-19.

In the semi-finals, the Heaumes played the holders but, at 20-19 down, Hewitt played two wonder bowls to claim the game 21-19 for the eventual winners.

In the other semi-final, Haigh and Robson won 21-3.

The final was another cracking game. TOMMY Johnstone (Poynton) and Wayne Ditchfield (Eccleston) were the first qualifiers in the £5,300 Brighouse Classic sponsored by Damart.

Johnstone beat Roy Nicholson (Halifax) 21-10 in the qualifying game and Ditchfield left Joe Stockdale (Eccleshill) on seven.

The next qualifying round is tomorrow, when previous winner Graeme Wilson (Audenshaw) opens up against Simon Brown (Barrow).

Full draw: (6.30pm) Graeme Wilson (Audenshaw) v Simon Brown (Barrow), Hugh Hornby (St Michaels) v Adam Wider (Pudsey), Gareth Coates (Halifax) v Liam Griffin (Pudsey), Ashley Daykin (Huddersfield) v Andy Thornton (Barrow), Craig Newton (Wakefield) v Kieran O’Prey (Huddersfield), Gerald Merry (Tarporley) v Mark Johnson (Barrow), Jack Dyson (Huddersfield) v Dave Smith (Pudsey), Billy Thornton (Barrow) v Steve Davies (Liverpool).

Haigh and Robson raced into a 12-6 lead. But their opponents found their form again and pulled it back to 17 across. And Hewitt and Picavey didn’t look back.

Huddersfield Liberal League president Derek Beeby presented the prizes and thanked everyone.

Yvonne Heaume and Andrew Heaume (Almondbury Lib) 21 Irene Crowther and Frank Wrathall (Meltham Lib) 8; Rachel Picavey and Derek Hewitt (Cowcliffe Lib) 21 Debbie Farrar and Steve Cameron (Cowcliffe Lib) 16; Eileen Johnson and Damian Balderson (Linthwaite CBC) 21 Diane Balderson and Trevor Balderson (Linthwaite CBC) 3; Julie Robson and Michael Haigh (Marsh Lib) 21 Janet Bennett and Nigel Bennett (Golcar Lib) 19.

Yvonne Heaume and Andrew Heaume 20 Rachel Picavey and Derek Hewitt 21; Eileen Johnson and Damian Balderson 3 Julie Robson and Michael Haigh 21.

Rachel Picavey and Derek Hewitt 21 Julie Robson and Michael Haigh 18.