Browse Sections

• Stockport County FC
• Sale Sharks
• Local football
• Local cricket

Gareth sweeps up

Jamie Bramley and Frank Quigley
26/ 3/2008

STOCKPORT bowlers had a good time of it in the 2008 Romiley Arms Open, the first sweep of the new season.

In round one 10 Stockport bowlers progressed into the last 32, from the opening field of 64.

Nursery player Mark Mills received a bye in round one before going on to hammer Lee Sturgess in round two to reach the last 16.

Mills continued to pile on the pressure and narrowly defeated Cliff Hill in the next round.

With confidence high the Nursery Premier League player booked his semi- final ticket with a close fought win over M Barlow.

Steve Crowther is a local bowler to watch as he came through the bottom half of the draw in some style to reach the other semi-final.

Crowther was brimming with confidence and put out Mel Hobson and Richard Howson in quick succession.

Crowther though saved all his battling spirit for a quarter-final match up with Burbage bowler Willie Owen.

With eyes firmly on the prize Crowther found a mega bowl on a 20m round peg at the last end that piled on the pressure and ensured him a semi-final spot.

Elsewhere in the competition ladies bowler Jackie Gloag saw off Matt Jones and Paul Tootal before being defeated by Owen.

Nursery player Gareth Gwilliam was on fire, putting out some top names en route to a semi-final match against Crowther.

He eased past Dave Jackson before a display of magical bowling saw him nudge out the much-respected pair of Ivor Hulme and Joe Bradbury.

The other semi-finalist was Tony Gatley from Warrington.

Sadly an all-Stockport final wasn’t to be as Mills had his dream ended by Gatley 21-15.

Gwilliam beat Crowther 21-16 to land a place in the final.

Gwilliam ran out 21-15 winner in the final against Gatley, emulating his 2004 competition victory and collecting £150 prize.

MOST of Stockport’s bowling club greens opened on Good Friday, with the exception of the Parks Greens.

The Tommy Heyes Senior Invitation 16 Memorial Trophy, which took place at the George and Dragon, Hyde, was won by Kerry Morris.

Tommy Heyes Junior was on hand to present the trophy and cheque for £250 in memory of his father.

In the semi-finals Andy Buckley demolished Robert Hitchen 21-9 and Morris edged out Carl Armitage 21-18.

In the final Morris beat Buckley 21-16.

At last Wednesday’s Stockport Parks half-yearly AGM meeting, at the Victoria Bowling Club, clubs unanimously agreed a proposal to reduce the number of players in B Division from 10 to eight players per team, to allay the concerns of clubs worried they would not have enough players to fulfill their match commitments.

It now means all the A Division teams will have 10 players per team and all the B Division teams will have eight players per team.

At the main AGM, held at the end of the year, clubs will have to decide if they also reduce the A Division teams to eight players per team for the 2009 season to safeguard the future of the Stockport Parks Bowling League.

Next Sunday sees the start of the Woodley Sping Classic qualifying heats. Play gets underway at 10.30am and 2.30pm.