BOWLS: Colne take up pole position

COLNE Cricket put themselves back in pole position in the Thwaites East Lancashire Premier League, courtesy of their neighbours Colne Legion.

In a Federation-hit weekend, with many top players representing East Lancashire, the Cricketers took advantage of the postponement of Bar Lane's fixture at East Lancs to move four points clear of their Bolton rivals.

Glynn Shuttleworth's 21-8 was the best for the Cricketers which keeps him at the top of the North West Fire Protection Merit.

Sanderson, 21-12 for the Legion, was their best reply.

Darwen Subs moved back to challenge for number one spot with a whitewash over strugglers Greenhill 14-0.

Dave Whittle 21-5 did the damage and it must be disappointing for the Burnley club after recording their first win last weekend.

In the only other game to be played, Turton triumphed against the fast improving R Utility 117-111, John Mort, straight from the runners-up spot at the Globe Classic, was the best for the villagers 21-9 and Simpson 21-15 was best for the Helmshore outfit.

The first round of the Autumn Cup gives most clubs a break next weekend but the pursuit for the championship, with half of the league's clubs still there or thereabouts, looks to be the tightest for a long time.

Brownedge duo contest title

THE Evalast Player of the Year award is now between Brownedge team-mates Andrew Harley and Dave Barnish on 20 and 18 points, respectively.

With just two matches remaining Barnish is the only player who can catch long time leader Harley, who has been outstanding throughout the season.

Harley has been in pole position for his team in all but three games and lost only one game from 15 starts.

The top two, along with Linden Carr, have dominated the leaderboard since April.

Stuart Gall has returned to top place in the race at Great Harwood and is in fifth place overall.

But the club prize is still up for grabs as John Chatwin who has had his best year in the division, Ray Turner and Glyn Dodd trail by one point.

Alexandra number one Les had a tremendous season and retains fourth on the leaderboard besides having coasted into a four point lead for the club prize.

Roy Preston has had a great campaign for Witton and deservedly takes the team award for 2004.

The race for club honours at Rose N'Bowl is between captain Geoff Alderson who has held pole position since April and Frank Herbert who trails by a single point.

At Farington, Chris Pickup and Mark Birtwistle are on level points with Graham Pilkington a further point behind. David Kayley is clear leader at Lostock Hall one ahead of team-mate Graham Myers.

As the season reaches its climax in August, there are some intriguing match play pairings to be decided before honours are achieved.

Evalast Super Merit leaderboard: Andrew Harley (Brownedge) 20 points, 127 total; Dave Barnish (Brownedge) 18, 60; Linden Carr (Brownedge) 17, 88; Kevin Thompson (Alexandra) 16, 55; Stuart Gall (Great Harwood) 16, 35; Don Yeadon (St Annes) 16, 34; Terry Wood (St Annes) 15, 31; John Chatwin (Great Harwood) 15, 26; Ray Turner (Great Harwood) 15, 16; Glyn Dodd (Great Harwood) 14, 53; Paul Wilson (St Annes) 13, 61; Tom Fishwick (Brownedge) 13, 45; Dave Darley (Brownedge) 13, 29; Brian Oakes (Birches) 12, 82; John Neville (Brownedge) 12, 62; Stuart Kenyon (Frenchwood) 12, 44; David Hoyle (Alexandra) 12, 41; Malcolm Wensley (Great Harwood) 12, 30; Del Webster (Birches) 12, 22; Brian Tomlinson (Alexandra) 12, 20; Geoff Alderson (Rose N'Bowl) 11, 15; Frank Herbert (Rose N'Bowl) 10,. 42; Barry Sowerby (Birches) 10, 25; Nick Kershaw (Birches) 10, 24; Peter Wilding (Frenchwood) 10,2 0; Roy Preston (Witton) 10, level; John Wade (Birches) 9, 44; Alan Clark (Alexandra) 9, 16; Chris Pickup (Farington) 9, level.

Dillon and Hargreaves make Classic progress

WELL known local players Martin Dillon and Harry Hargreaves were the latest qualifiers in Alexandra Classic-sponsored by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and Scottish and Newcastle Pub Enterprises.

Dillon overcame two fancied opponents to take his place in the last 16 for the first time. In his opener with previous champion Lee Lawton, of Failsworth, he was quickly into his stride and soon led 12-7.

From then on Dillon was very consistent and never allowed Lawton to get into the contest as he ran out without being seriously challenged 31-15.

However, his qualifier with Phil Cookson, who disposed of Lee Bleakley 31-19 was a much closer affair.

In fact Cookson had a good opportunity to steal the game, but never got far enough in front to dominate.

But when Dillon led 30-29 there was a last chance for Cookson, but he failed to make an easy double.

The following end was taken by Dillon, who made no mistake despite the 30-30 margin.

Harry Hargreaves won through after a good tussle with Glyn Dodd, who was just a shade below his bet form.

Nevertheless he played well enough to end the hopes of top Merseysider Mick Tunstall 31-24 in his opening game.

Unfortunately he never quite played with the same sparkle against Hargreaves and trailed by a handful of points for most of the game.

Although he closed the gap in the latter stages, Hargreaves held on to win 31-238 and qualified for the third round for the first time in eight years.

Matches this weekend (6.30pm start) Saturday: R Hitchen, P Wilkinson, M Fleming, M Chamberlain. Sunday (6.30pm): J Rushton, C Lane, D Hoyle, B Topham.

Great Harwood are held by rivals St Annes

GREAT Harwood maintained joint second place in the Evalast Super League when they shared the spoils with rivals St Annes.

Both teams have been in the chase for honours all season and although the title now looks out of reach, the race for runners-up prizes intensifies.

This match at Lowerfold was a tale of contrasting halves as the visitors opened the score with a very competent performance from ever-present Don Yeadon 21-14.

Meanwhile, home captain Stuart Gall was locked in a great contest with his opposite number and current merit champion Terry Wood.

But in a game with few easy opportunities, Gall won the vital point in a thrilling finish 21-20.

Paul Wilson who has provided additional strength to the St Annes team, also had a tremendous duel with Ray Turner.

Although neither player gave anything away, the game could have gone either way, but it was Wilson who squeezed home by the narrowest of margins 21-20.

No doubt the first half deficit 2-1 spurred on the Lowerfold lads who well deserved second half honours to level the match.

Glyn Dodd was the star for the homesters as he was exceptional on a long pegging mark and quite remarkably ran out without a reply from his opponent.

Malcolm Wensley was back on top form as he romped home 21-10 against a very capable Mike Fleming. Another winner here would have put Harwood firmly in the driving seat for runners-up place, but they remain favourites.

Incidentally if these teams finish on level points they will play off on Sunday, August 22.

Witton were handed no favours as they were eclipsed 6-0 at Brownedge who are on the threshold of their second championship in 14 years.

Brian Hoole, John Birkett, Graham Lang and Aldo Staffa all got decent scores, but not enough to be a serious threat.

However, the result was no disgrace as few teams have fared better at Brownedge which they made a fortress since the campaign began.

The division takes a two-week break from fixtures which restart on Sunday, August 8.

Results: Alexandra 3 Frenchwood 3; Birchs 2 Rose N'Bowl 4; Brownedge 6 Witton 0; Farington 3 Lostock Hall 3; Great Harwood 3 St Annes 3.

Fixtures for Sunday, August 8: Birches v Witton; Farington v Alexandra; Frenchwood v Great Harwood; Lostock Hall v Rose N' Bowl; St Annes v Brownedge.

Barrett draw

THE Richard Barrett open veterans tournament, sponsored by Lupton & Place, gets under way at Ighten Mount Bowling Club at the end of July.

All the qualifying rounds are played on Friday afternoon, 2pm start.

Draw: July 30: T Connell v P Nicholson; I Johnson v J Winterflood; I Charnock v J Simpson; E Kaye v T Mills; R Parks v C Hope; F Bulcock v K Charnock; H Moorhouse v L Gower, P Allan v A Birchinough.

August 6: R Eccles v Mrs Hindle; R Hinton v E Fields; G Welsby v C Callagan, G Hindle v J Birkett; K Musk v J Frankland; D Gill v S Johnson; B Yerkers v L Cookson; B Whittaker v F Roberts.

August 13: J Chatwin v D Peat; C Spencer v K Topham; P Shorrocks v G Marks; B Robinson v T Dewhurt; A Terry v J Barrett; C Thomas v Mrs Howarth; D Croasdale v A Clegg; A Pcickles v M Hanna.

August 20: P Holt v C Ingham; G Fifield v C Waterworth; P Maguire v R Gaffney; Mrs Fields v R Cragg; B Smith v B Finn; P Cragg v Mrs Gower; J Holt v V Peat; K Well v J Wattersall.

Any competitors unavailable on the above dates should ring organiser Frank Ratcliffe on 01282 830537.

Burns is champ

MICK Burns is this year's CIU Bowling champion after beating John Ebroll 21-19.

In the final Mick went 15-9 up, then John hit back to lead 17-16 but Burns got the point he needed to lift the trophy.

Burns also won the CIU Snooker earlier in the year completing a unique double.

Results - Quarter-final: D Burns 11 B Doyle 21; P Haworth 15 M Burns 21; J Ebroll 21 A Baxendale 14; C Hope 13 M Yerkess 21. Semi-final: B Doyle 14 M Burns 21; J Ebroll 21 M Y erkess 14. Final: Mick Burns 21 John Ebroll 19.