Werneth battlers pass test of nerve

GOLF:  

WERNETH left it late to book both their sides in the quarter-finals of the Oldham and District Golf League cup competitions.

Playing against Crompton and Royton at Saddleworth, ‘A’ team captain Lee Rowbotham feared the worst when he lost his opening game with partner Paul Egan to C & R duo Brad Cummings and Ryan O’Leary.

At the time, Werneth were down in three others but turned things round for an unlikely 4-1 win.

Adam Rowbotham and Chris Cordwell won at the second extra hole after being two down with two to play, finding three birdies in a row from the 17th.

Michael Farrimond and Mark Routledge were one down with four to play and claimed a last-green win.

Jack Suttie and Reece Hobson won by the same margin and Werneth were already on the way to round two by the time Mark Abbott and Johnny Wilde secured a more comfortable 5 & 4 victory.



Last-green wins were also decisive as the Werneth ‘B’ team eclipsed Oldham ‘B’ 3-2 at Ashton, with Ian Sutton and Ian Mather holding on to a one-hole lead on the 18th and David Whaley and Mike Cocker stealing a win in a tight game in which the lead changed six times.

Shock result of the first round came in the ‘B’ Cup where league leaders Dukinfield were dumped out 3-2 by new boys Werneth Low at North Manchester.



PHIL Paxford won the Lombard Medal at Saddleworth with an excellent return of 78-11-67. Roger Devy (77-9-68) was a single shot behind, while third-placed Gary Simpson was third after a round of 75-5-70.