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Darren Griffiths

BOWLS: NIMBLE Nook and Tonge star Darren Griffiths won the Greater Manchester Merit at Fallowfield Bowling and Tennis Club, beating Rawtenstall’s Andy Cairns 21-20 in a thrilling final.

Victory earned Griffiths (left) a place in the Champion Of Champions tournament at the Waterloo Hotel, Blackpool, and a berth in next month's All-England Merit.

Joining him in the latter will be Cairns and his Nook team-mate Gary Ellis, who won the third place play-off against Mike Holden, the former Royton player.