In-form Ellis now has eyes on Waterloo title

ON THE MARCH . . . Nimble Nook ace Gary Ellis is in superb form as he gears up for the Waterloo Bowling Handicap

GARY Ellis is in prime form for his crack at an unprecedented sixth Waterloo Bowling Handicap title.

The Nimble Nook and Tonge star landed his tenth major title of the season on Saturday when he defeated Winsford's Glynn Cookson 21-20 in the final of the Moorfield Open in Widnes.

Now he has his sights set on crown green bowling's biggest prize in Blackpool. He plays in the heats on Friday as he sets about adding to the five titles he already has on his CV, which equals the achievement of Brian Duncan - arguably the sport's greatest-ever player.

In a nip and tuck final at Moorfield, Ellis's prospects looked bleak when he trailed the in-form Cookson 20-17.

But four successive singles, once again demonstrating Ellis's bottle and determination, clinched victory and the £1,000 top prize for the man widely regarded as bowling's number one performer.

Earlier, Ellis survived a 21-20 thriller against Terry Kelly (St Helens). He followed that with a 21-12 dismissal of Brighouse's Chris Mordue and an identical return against Warrington ace Phil Davies.

Ellis won a total of six matches on the day as in the afternoon he qualified for the finals of the Mike Roach Classic at Woolston BC, Warrington.

He was totally dominant, smashing Lee Johnstone (Warrington) 21-3 before seeing off Barry Booth (Potteries) 21-9.

Ellis was in line for another big prize the following night when he played in the finals of the Bellingham Open in Wigan.

Success looked to be a formality after a 31-11 destruction of Mark Britton (Wigan) in the semi-finals, but Stafford's Chris Ward produced an excellent display in the final to edge out Ellis, 31-29. Consolation for Ellis was a £400 runner-up cheque.

"It would have been nice to win that one as well," said Ellis. "But it was not to be and I can't complain at the weekend I have had.

"I've now won 10 competitions this season, but at the same stage in my best-ever season I had won 12 by this stage, so I am struggling to match that."

YORKSHIRE will play Shropshire in the final of the Endsleigh County Championship on Sunday, September 4.

The White Rose county saw off Staffordshire 461-363, while Shropshire overcame North Lancs and Fylde 432-402.

THIS Sunday sees the Saddleworth League's Law Swallow Cup semi-finals and final take place at Royton Cricket Club, starting at 10-30am.