Counties clash in bid for runners up

THIS coming Sunday the big local county parks derby between Cheshire and Greater Manchester takes place across two venues. Both sides need a result in the group which looks set to be dominated Yorskhire as they hunt down second spot.

The home leg for Cheshire Parks is at Knutsford Private Bowling Club on Mereheath Lane with play getting underway at 2pm.

Meanwhile Greater Manchester have chosen Summit in Rochdale in what looks like an intriguing match up. Last Saturday night the opening qualifying rounds of The Nursery Classic took place at Green Lane.

Gareth Coates from Halifax defeated local Mark Bennett to secure his spot on finals night.

The second qualifying berth went to Dukinfield’s Jack Holland who overcame Nicky Tideswell from Stoke 21-14. The line up this coming Saturday is topped by Greg Smith with action starting from 6pm as more players look to progress in the competition.

In the S and D League George and Dragon made major ground into Houldsworths’s lead at the top by sending nine players into the winners enclosure against Houldsworth (2).

It was Beels to the rescue as Gary Beeley was the sole winner for the relegation threatened side. LMRCA remain in major trouble of slipping out of the trap door and could only muster three winners at Victoria. Graham Southgate 21-4 and John Davies 21-5 went huge strides to securing the aggregate for the side from Offerton. Houldsworth (1) the current league leaders had four 21-20 winners at Poynton in a game that could have swung either way. John Brown, Alan Manuel, Colin Price and Jim Mcgurk were all mightily relieved to get over the line by just one shot. Terry Gale’s side eventually won the match with seven winners and the aggregate. Grapes Hotel had just four winners up at Whaley Bridge but still managed to win the aggregate. That result was helped by Steve Barber and Ben Gloag who both won single figures for the Hyde outfit.

Hosts Hadfield had seven winners and the aggregate against Great Moor Social.