New format for Brunner Cup spells good News for crown green spectators

THIS coming Saturday is the second round of the prestigious Brunner Cup across Cheshire.

The event is being run in a different format this time around with coronavirus restrictions being strongly considered.

Rather than two teams playing 12 aside on a neutral venue the event has been totally restructured.

This time around its six games at each team’s home venue meaning the 12 individual games are split in half.

It’s good news for anybody wanting some local bowls viewing with action now taking part at teams’ home greens.

Houldsworth WMC are the bookies favourites and will play second division LV side Mersey Valley this coming Saturday. Kick Off is 2-00pm.

Also in Stockport the most mouth-watering tie is Poynton Sports against

Castle Sports who remain one of Cheshire bowls biggest bowls powerhouses.

The Crown Hotel have a clash against Macclesfield side Pack Horse which will represent a tricky test for the side from Buxton Road.

Also in action not too far away Lloyds Hotel (Chorlton) face LMRCA (Altricham) in an all LV League affair.

Elsewhere on the county scene the Cheshire Merit is on the horizon with several local bowlers involved and takes place on the new plastic greens at Helsby Sports on Sunday June 27th with play commencing at 10am. The final piece of county news is that Cheshire will face Derbyshire in the Crossfield Cup with the event for the first time being played as a straight knockout.

In the S and D League Poynton Sports climbed back to the top of the table securing five winners and

the aggregate at home to Hadfield.

The hosts had two big winning home cards thanks to Darren Flannery (21-6) and Phil Oldham (21-6) which won them the game.

Houldsworth WMC cruised to success a fortnight ago with eight and the aggregate at basement side LMRCA on the magic diamond.

It’s fair to say Terry Gale has assembled a title winning side and they made no mistake on the night.

LMRCA followed up that result with another heavy loss at New Mills again only securing two winners up in the hills.

Whaley Bridge came bouncing back down to earth with a bang when The Grapes crushed them with seven winners and the aggregate.

Mike Gee was the outstanding performer for the Hyde based side and made the journey worthwhile for this team.

In the second division the best result of the entire night came from table topping Woodley Sports.

The tricky test away to Crown Hotel yielded a massive nine winners to secure them a huge 16.5 points haul.

In a busy week for bowls the Nursery Open began in earnest at the now slightly smaller venue on Green Lane. Sheffield duo Chris Kelly and Graeme Hickey made the hop over the pennines worthwhile and booked themselves a final night slot.

Local bowlers Jack Holland and Paul Morris did go close but fell at the final hurdle on the night.