Another fantastic night of bowling saw Sale claim the local derby against Lloyds and go top of the league. Tonge got a bit of a thumping at Nursery, Tottington Cons won a tough battle against King and Queen and South Manchester had a very successful trip to Richmond.
Sale Excelsior won the derby game against Lloyds and go top of the Manchester Premier League. The match was won by the Sale men who claimed three of the four games and swept into a twenty point lead. Danny Baines led the way in a dominant display and it was only Mike Geraghty who could resist the Sale onslaught. Although the games in the second block were shared the aggregate was always going the way of the Sale men.
Tonge went to Nursery hoping to claim enough points to maintain their challenge for the league title. They left after claiming only three wins and were on the end of a forty one point aggregate loss with Ben Holbrook leading the way for the Stockport men. The first four games were shared as Jim Derby kept up his unbeaten record. It was a dominant display from the home team in the second block as they gave a near perfect display.
Tottington Conservatives claimed a fine win at home to King and Queen with Chris Jolley claiming the best winner award. The Warrington men got an excellent start with Alan Manual in fine form and led at the halfway stage. What followed was a clean sweep of the last four jacks by the Bury men and a nine point win on the aggregate.
South Manchester RBL made the journey to Liverpool and brought with them their ‘A’ game. The game started with Phil Lee claiming Richmond’s solitary win before it became a procession for the visitors. Carl Armitage was in top form as South Manchester claimed seven of the eight games.
The averages table has had a familiar look to it for much of the season. Mike Geraghty leads the way as he has done for weeks closely followed by Jim Derby. Both are unbeaten and to be honest they have barely had a close game all season. Mike has played an extra game than Jim thanks to a postponed game and the way it is going they could both go the season without losing a game.
Sale Excelsior lead by the slimmest of margins from Lloyds with Tonge in third. South Manchester are in fourth place and are hot on the heels of Tonge.
Next week could well see a change again as Sale travel to Tonge for what should be a classic of a game. Lloyds will be looking to capitalise, as their two closest rivals take points off each other, with a home game against the league’s bottom team. Nursery will be looking to claim another win at home against Tottington. King and Queen and South Manchester should have good old battle in Warrington. This is something a derby battle with so many Warrington men in the South Manchester line up.
All in all it should be another classic week in the Manchester Premier Bowling League.
