Steve’s sights on fourth title

BOWLS: STEVE Copeland will tomorrow night bid to join Peter Craig as a four-time winner of the Green Final Bowling Handicap.

The Springbank star is hot favourite to lift the trophy at his former home venue, Royton Cricket and Bowling Club. Winner in 1982, 1999 and 2003, Copeland has been in superb form in recent weeks, landing the Greater Manchester Merit.

He opens tomorrow night against Greater Manchester colleague John Ashton, who must concede two chalks as a current home player at Royton. One of last year’s finalists, he is enjoying another successful season and is a tough opponent.

Opening proceedings on finals night will be Springbank’s Simon Cawley and Nimble Nook’s Matt Gillies.

Gillies, twice a runner-up in this event, will hope to go one better. He plays a talented opponent who will be making his first appearance at this stage of the tournament.

Another Springbank player, Matt O’Neill, takes on competition chairman Keith McHugh in the third quarter-final. O’Neill came from behind in matches on several occasions to qualify at Nimble Nook, while McHugh - the runner-up at Royton in 2007 - qualified at North Chadderton.

The last of the quarter-finals features home green man Keith Gledhill and Springhead’s Bob Carr.

Gledhill produced some excellent play in his qualifying rounds at North Chadderton, but loses two chalks from his handicap of four because of his home status.

Play start at 6.30pm tomorrow, with the gates opening at Royton at 5.45pm.

Entry fee is £1 and a charity raffle will be staged.



GREATER Manchester face a must-win group match against Cumbria in the Endsleigh County Championship on Sunday.

After narrowly losing their opening game to Derbyshire, Manchester hit back to beat Cheshire in their next fixture. Victory over Cumbria this weekend could see them into the semi-finals, but only if the result of the Cheshire-Derbyshire clash is favourable. Manchester have chosen AEU Openshaw as their home green, while the away venue is Lindal BC.