POYNTON Sports Club ladies overcame an upsetting start to their annual open pairs competition to host a memorable tournament.
Sixty-four ladies arrived from across the north west to find the London Road club had been vandalised and all the windows smashed.
But a clear-up operation was quickly in place and what had started badly, improved immediately the bowling began with some brilliant close action on the tricky marks Poynton is noted for and several of the well-fancied players went out in the first rounds.
In the quarter-final Janet Proctor and Rhona Mason (Poynton) went through to the last four with a win over Sheila Bryning and Margaret Cotterill (Macc), while Jean Mincherton and Mary Taylor (Marple) denied homesters Eileen Carleton and Pat Parnell a place in the semi-final.
The last quarter-final was a real nail biter when Linda Foster and Jean Potts (Wilmslow) pip Ronni Lyon and Maureen Lyons from Merseyside 21-19.
The semis saw Mincherton and Taylor narrowly beat Carol Mone and Maureen Barnes (Chapel Park), and Foster and Potts beat Proctor and Mason.
The final was a thrilling affair with superb lead bowls from both pairs but Foster and Potts just edged it to be crowned worthy victors.
The Wilmslow pair took an early lead but Mincherton and Taylor were never far away and fought back to 20-20 before Foster and Potts sealed victory. The duo collected a cheque for £100 and an engraved cut-glass trophy from sponsors Regal Garage Doors.
- MACCLESFIELD Bowling Club will be holding the Joan Foster Open Mixed Pairs competition on Sunday, August 14 at 10am. Entry is £6 per pair and refreshments are available all day. Contact Les Foster on: 01625 828537.
