Heats are one!

WINNER in 2013, Darren Griffiths is among a quality field at Delph tonight.

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BOWLS: TWO former champions are in action in the first heats of the Green Final Bowling Handicap tonight.

Darren Griffiths, the 2013 winner, stakes his claim in an excellent line-up at Delph. And 2004 hero Mark Dwayre will need to be on top form at Moorside, which includes 2013 runner-up Matt Gillies.

Two more heats, at Nimble Nook and North Chadderton, will produce contenders for the finals at Royton Cricket and Bowling Club on July 5.

Tonight’s venues and players —

DELPH

B Seville handicap 2, G Flint, D Griffiths 2 (Nimble Nook); P Edwards 4 (URU Phoenix); J Ashton 2 (Royton Cricket); Scott McHugh 3 (Hopwood); S Leach 2 (Syke); P Biram 3 (Milnrow Memorial).

MOORSIDE

M Fisher 5, M Gillies 2, R Nisbet 2, E Worthington 2 (Nimble Nook); W McDermott 2, J Hynes 2 (Springbank); M Dwayre 2 (Royton Cricket); J Thompson 2 (Syke).

NIMBLE NOOK

S Rigney 5 (Hollinwood Cricket); L Schofield 2 (Springbank); M O’Neill 2 (Syke); J Ramsbottom 2, B Gledhill 2 (Royton Cricket); D Mountford 4 (Moorside); W Flanagan 4 (Dog & Partridge); M Allingan 4 (Springhead Libs).

NORTH CHADDERTON

I Rigney 4 (Hollinwood Cricket); K Chappell 4 (Moorside); Martin Hodson 2 (Springbank); C Lane 2 (Nimble Nook); K Gledhill 4 (Royton Cricket); N Lees 4 (Shaw Comrades); J Owen 4 (Stanley Road); P Guilfoyle 2 (Delph).

Practice is from 6.30pm and play starts at 7pm.



GREATER Manchester, narrowly beaten by North Derbyshire in their first Endsleigh County Championship group match of 2015, face a must-win fixture against Cheshire on Sunday (2pm). The host venue is Waterloo and Taunton BC and the home side is packed with former members who know the green well.



GREATER Manchester women take on North Warwickshire on Sunday (2pm) when the home venue is Springbank BC. Local players in action are Eileen Dawson, Rachel Fish and Karen Houlston (Delph), Diane Fish and Janelle Pertoldi (Royton), Chris Kewley and Sophie Rigney (Springbank), Ann Burgess and J King (Coalshaw Park), Joan Horton (Diggle), Janet Taylor (Dobcross) and Margaret Brooks (Grapes).



GARY ELLIS and Graeme Wilson, widely regarded as the top two players in crown green bowls, are in action in the JW Lees Classic at Hopwood Unionist Club, Heywood, tonight (6.30pm). Springbank’s Steve Copeland, Ged Smedley, Paul Heap and Simon Cawley are also on an excellent card.



TONGE maintained their grip at the top of the Manchester Premier League with a 10-4.5 (173-158) victory over the Nursery Inn, Stockport. Tonge entertain Sale XL next Wednesday (7.30pm).

Gary Ellis won the Freddie Hulme Memorial Trophy at Houldsworth BC with a 21-15 success over Stockport’s Jamie Bramley.