BOWLS ROUND-UP: Climbers Harwood thrash the Birches

Jack Holt, who made easy work of a difficult encounter on paper 21-9, and Tony Dobson, who returned to the squad with a top class performance to win by the same margin, led the onslaught.

Glyn Dodd, 21-12, and captain Stuart Gall, 21-15, secured two more points to clinch the outcome. However, Ray Turner had a real tussle with Birches captain Alan Lancaster and had to pull out all the stops to squeeze home by the narrowest of margins, 21-20.

At least the Lowerfold men are within striking distance of runaway leaders Brownedge, who stumbled to a surprising home draw with Farington.

Alexandra remain in contention for the minor prizes following a solid 4-2 win at Lostock Hall. Nevertheless, against a team with a very poor average of one point per game, they ought to have done better.

Kevin Thompson led the way with a comfortable victory 21-8 while Alan Clark again made his mark on new territory with an excellent 21-12 score. David Hoyle added to the total 21-11 along with Chris Slater, who also coasted in by the same margin.

Inconsistency has cost the Alex several points but if they are to make any sort of impact on the division they must inflict the first defeat over runaway leaders and this weekend's opponents Brownedge.

Witton won their match of the season when they defeated visitors Rose 'n Bowl 4-2. Derek Smith recorded the best score for the homesters 21-11 but Brian Hoole and Mark Green were not far behind as they both won by the same 21-14 margin.

Roy Preston notched his third successive victory when he edged out Rose n' Bowl captain Geoff Alderson 21-19 to clinch the result. Peter Connolly replied for the visitors 21-18 in the first half before John Tattersall provided further consolation after the break 21-17.

Results: Brownedge 3, Farington 3; Great Harwood 5, Birches 1; Lostock Hall 2, Alexandra 4; St Annes 5, Frenchwood 1; Witton 4, Rose 'n Bowl.

Fixtures for Sunday June 13: Alexandra v Brownedge; Birches v Farington; Frenchwood v Rose 'n Bowl; Great Harwood v Lostock Hall; St Annes v Witton.

Sunnybank draw

SUNNYBANK Thwaites Centenary Pairs are to be held Saturday and Sunday, June 12 and 13.

DRAW: Saturday -- 11am: P Wood & G Haworth v T Lytham & T Taylor; S Pickles & K Roberts v N Bagshaw & J Prestwick; A Cooper & N Phythian v D Sowerby & I McNeil; K Wainwright & C Taylor v J McDonald & M Middleton.

1pm: R Haworth & K Boast v M Opie & R Barnes; G Dodd & S Gall v F Lord & A N Other; I Hazlehurst & R Hall v C & D Pollard; P Atherden & A N Other v M Wensley & M Dillon.

3pm: N Astbury & A N Other v L Lawton & A Cairns; A N Other & A N Other v D Griffiths & A Buckley; G Schofield & G Wood v J Mort & D Allen; D Higginbottom & P Conderdine v B Jones & B Haworth.

5pm: J Haslam & A Knowles v P Bennison & P Marsden; J Brockbank & J Birtwistle v S Harrison & J Urmson; P Monaghan & K Allsop v M Cordey & K Scaife; B Lewis & J Flynn v M Lambert & J Pilling.

Final 16 pairs on Sunday, 11am start. Presentation will be made by Mr David Porritt, who is a direct descendant of the Porritt family who donated the bowling green in 1904.

Duo go through

THIS week's qualifiers in the Thwaites Globe Classic are Great Harwood bowler Gordon Schofield and Haslingden's Mick Lambert.

Lambert overcame newcomer Gary Stevenson 21-19 and Gordon beat veteran Joe Pemberton 21-14.

Results - First round : Joe Pemberton (Gt Hwd) 21, Jack Pilling (Has) 20; Bill Tuson (Chor) 21, Stuart Smith (Ossy) 7; Gordon Schofield (Gt Hwd) bye; Mick Burns (Rish) 21, Roy Barnes (Acc) 20; Brian Yerkess (Rish) 20, Mick Lambert (Has) 21; Peter Wiggins (Gt Hwd) bye; Gary Stevenson (Ossy) 21, Roy Bickerstaff (Acc) 10; Nick Wilson (Blackburn) bye.

Second round: Joe Pembertoon 21, Bill Tuson 8; Gordon Schofield 21, Mick Burns 8; Mick Lambert 21, Peter Wiggins 4; Gary Stevenson 21, Nick Wilson 18.

Third round: Joe Pemberton 14, Gordon Schofield 21; Mick Lambert 21, Gary Stevenson 19.

Players for Sunday June 13, 6pm start: Rob Houghton (Pad), Wilf Simpson (Waterfoot), Mick Cordy (Waterfoot), Mark Bretherton (Rams), Geoff Parkinson Acc), Tom Smith (Ossy), Martin Ryan (Acc), Bill Finn (Ossy).

There are places in this competition on the following dates: June 13, 20 and 27; July 4. Final night is Sunday July 11. Entry fee is £5 and the competition is open to all bowlers. To enter telephone Colin Massey on 01254 887523.

Globe's warning to the leaders

ACCRINGTON'S Globe showed just what it takes to win a championship by winning at top of the table Bar Lane.

Last season's champions showed last season's runners-up that there is still a long way to go before the end of this season by tightening up at the top to make it as close as it can get to decide this year's league title.

The Globe achieved an 8-6 win at Bolton's Bar Lane, Graham Wood coming in with a tremendous 21-3 win to not only put his club on the road to success but lift his personal standing in the merit.

The Bolton outfit still retain joint top spot with Colne Cricket, who also went down to an 8-6 defeat at the hands of Blackburn's East Lancs.

David Friar, 21-10, did the damage in a narrow two-chalk defeat of the league's in-form outfit. Joint leadership at the top is cut back to a mere eight points.

Turton, in a reversed fixture, had a fine win at Colne British Legion 12-2. Barry Hall, 21-12, was the best, to keep the villagers' season alive, while Wilson's 21-13 was the only win for the Legion.

Helmshore's R/Utility did the business 10-4 against Burnley's Greenhill, who have still to win a game. Simpson's 21-7 was the best for the homesters with Cullen's 21-15 being Greenhill's best winner.

Burnley's St Andrew's showed that they are not a team to be forgotten with an 8-6 win over Darwen Subs. That defeat means that 12 points separate the top five and the Saints, three points further adrift, may not be convinced that it's a five horse race for the championship.

Fixtures for Sunday June 13, 11am start: Colne Cricket v R/Utility; Greenhill v St Andrew's; Darwen Subs v Turton; Colne BL v Bar Lane; Globe v East Lancs.

Brownedge are in control

THE Super League Individual Merit, sponsored by plastic fencing manufacturers Evalast, remains dominated by Brownedge players who command four of the top five positions.

Last year's runner up, Andrew Harley, leads a strong contingent of team mates Lindon Carr, Dave Darley and Dave Barnish. Great Harwood duo Ray Turner and Stuart Gall are in contention on 10 points as the competition reaches the halfway stage.

David Hoyle has recovered top form after a couple of setbacks and is also well placed on 10 points. Kevin Thompson has been a major mover up the leaderboard in recent weeks following a trio of successes.

Geoff Alderson is enjoying his best season but last week's 21-19 reverse cost him six places on the overall list. Roy Preston has taken over pole position at Witton followed by Mark Green, Aldo Staffa, Mick Pearce and Brian Hoole.

Last year's winner, Terry Wood, has had a terrific couple of wins and is close behind the leading group on 11 points.

Dodd hits back to take the crown

THE Great Harwood and District League's Ted Tomlinson Trophy competition was held at Sabden Bowling Club last Saturday, with Glynn Dodd taking the crown.

Mick Burns took the initiative in the early stages against Dodd in the final to lead 8-0, and then 11-5.

At this point, Dodd found a mark to his liking and won the next six ends without reply to lead, 15-11.

Burns rallied to lead 16-15, but allowed Dodd to score three consecutive doubles and take the trophy in a very exciting final.

The trophy and prize money were presented by Sarah Tomlinson.

The closing date for entries to the Harold Blackburn Trophy, to be held at Clitheroe Cricket and Bowling Club, on Saturday, June 19, has been extended to Sunday, June 13.

Results - Quarter-final: Glynn Dodd (Gt Harwood) 21 Mary Wright (Free Gardeners) 10, Norman Threlfall (Ribblesdale A) 21 Paul Bold (Oakhill) 17, Mick Burns (Free Gardeners) 21 Denis Mather (Sabden Red) 8, John Chatwin (Gt Harwood) 21 Ian Berry (Immanuel A) 18

Semi-finals: Dodd 21 Threlfall 6, Burns 21 Chatwin19

Final: Dodd 21 Burns16

Dates for doubles

THE Mill Lodge Open Doubles will be held at Whalley BC on Saturday June 12.

Will all competitors please report at the time stated. Scratch time is 15 minutes. No practice allowed.

DRAW - 10am: A Cornall & B Ashworth v L Nuttall & D Simmonds; B & E Exley v N Threlfall & M Graham; D Anderton & J Mason v G & L Hindle; J Slynn & C Embley v P Bold & D Jones; M Wright & T Brown v R Hope & G Stevenson.

10.45am: J Burns & P Holden v K & P Stansfield; M Fryer & partner v M Cornall & K Harrison; A Norman & partner v C Massey & partner; D Mather & R Wright v E & J Hammond; B & L Tomlinson v A & D Hornigold.

12.30pm: M Burns & B Yerkess v D & M Waterhouse; P Singleton & G Yorke v C Hope & T Singleton; R Coulton & I Berry v F Corban & G Radivejevic.

Entries are still being accepted for the Brenda Monk mixed doubles to be held at Rushton St BC on Saturday June 26. Entries with £6 entry fee to Marion Cornall, 13 Grimshaw Street, Great Harwood. Tel 01254 889405.