Champion exitsat last-16 stage

WINNER of the Hollinwood qualifier, Darren Griffiths (right), releases a delivery, with Peter Kostyk looking on

SOPHIE Rigney's reign as Green Final Bowling Handicap champion is over.

The Springbank player became the first female to win the competition last year, but she bowed out at the last-16 stage at Shaw Comrades on Friday night.

Ironically, she went out at the hands of a player she beat in the quarter-finals at Moorside last year - Nimble Nook's Matt Gillies.

The in-form Gillies was in no mood to suffer a second consecutive defeat in the competition to Rigney, registering a convincing 21-6 success.

THROUGH

Former champion Darren Griffiths (Nimble Nook) is through to this year's finals after beating Springbank's Alan Hodson - one of the main organisers of this year's competition - 21-14 in the third round at Hollinwood Cricket Club.

But there was consolation for the Hodson family when Alan's son, Martin, went through at Moorside. He defeated Jim Halliwell (Springbank) 21-12 in the final qualifying game.

The other qualifier from Friday's heats was Malc Warhurst (Friezland), who overcame Dave Clayton (Springhead) 21-12 in the third round at Nimble Nook.

Results -

HOLLINWOOD

First round: J Dearden 19, A Hodson 21; K McHugh 4, P Edwards 21; D Griffiths 21, P Kostyk 11; B Higginbottom 11, D Mountford 21.

Second round: Hodson 21, Edwards 17; Griffiths 21, Mountford 7.

Third round: Hodson 14, Griffiths 21.

MOORSIDE

First round: D McGuinness 21, C Gartside 17; J Halliwell 21, P Guilfoyle 18; C Lane 21, S Edwards 15; D Rae 7, M Hodson 21.

Second round: McGuinness 13, Halliwell 21; Lane 8, Hodson 21.

Third round: Halliwell 12, Hodson 21.

SHAW COMRADES

First round: C Wright 19, S Rigney 21; A Whiteley 21, D Robinson 9; M Garbutt 8, M Gillies 21; K Chappell 12, S Mellor 21.

Second round: Rigney 21, Whiteley 17; Gillies 21, Mellor 17.

Third round: Rigney 6, Gillies 21.

NIMBLE NOOK

First round: D Clayton 21, C Bradbury 20; R Carr 14, B Gledhill 21; D O'Brien 10, J Lewis 21; M Warhurst 21, A Jackson 18.

Second round: Clayton 21, Gledhill 20; Warhurst 21, Lewis 16.

Third round: Clayton 12, Warhurst 21.

The draw for the finals at North Chadderton Social and Bowling Club on Friday week (6pm practice, 6.30 start) is -

Martin Hodson (2) v Darren Griffiths (2); Wilf McDermott (scr) v Colin Brooks (scr); Barry Sevile (scr) v Malc Warhurst (3); Matt Gillies (2) v Lee Higginbottom (2).

YORKSHIRE had a healthy representation in the finals of the £3,400 Coors Molson Classic at North Chadderton Social and Bowling Club and it was one of their star players, Ashley Daykin, who carried off the £1,000 top prize.

After beating hot favourite and fellow Tyke Graeme Wilson 21-20 in a superb last-16 encounter, Daykin was in dominant form and rounded off his day's work with a 21-13 defeat of Cumbria's Simon Brown - a one-time Springbank player - 21-13 in the final.

Moorside's Darren Mountford was a 21-6 last-16 casualty to Yorkshire's Josh Brown.

Nimble Nook's Matt Gillies went out 21-18 at the same stage to Simon Brown.

However, his Nook team-mate, Andy Murray, made it through to the semi-finals with a 21-18 defeat of Radcliffe's Paul Dudley and an identical scoreline against Hyde's Ben Gloag. He eventually fell 21-10 to Simon Brown.

Results -

Last 16: Wilson 20, Daykin 21; P Mottram 21, G Beeley 13; M Sweeney 21, S Gilroy 11; J Mordue 21, R Hitchen 12; Gloag 21, S Mort 13; Dudley 18, Murray 21; S Brown 21, Gillies 18; J Brown 21, Mountford 6.

Quarter-finals: Daykin 21, Mottram 9; Sweeney 21, Mordue 7; Gloag 18, Murray 21; S Brown 21, J Brown 20.

Semi-finals: Daykin 21, M Sweeney 16; Murray 10, S Brown 21.

Final: Daykin 21, S Brown 13.