FOR the second year running the final of the Cheshire County's Brunner Cup will be between the two Wirral teams, Gladstone and last year's winners, Tixall.

On Saturday, Gladstone had a narrow four-point victory over Frodsham Red Lion at Sale Excelsior while Tixall stormed to a very dominant 49-point win over Wharton in a match played at Grange Sports. The Final will be on Saturday, September 5.

The last stages of the Wallasey Association's five-a-side Tournament were also played on Saturday and winners, for the second successive year, were New Brighton Queens Royal who beat their close neighbours New Brighton Quarry Vikings in a tight final.

In the semi-final matches Queens Royal had a very straightforward win over Harrison Park while the Vikings just crept past West Kirby Victoria gaining victory by a single point.

The final was close throughout and it needed a narrow victory by Craig Saville in the final game to clinch the win.

This win was the second in a week for Queens Royal; the previous Saturday they won the Wallasey Association's Presidents Cup with a masterful display over Harrison Park 'A'.

Though they had to give their fellow first division opponents a 72 point start they utterly dominated the match and won by 251-232.

Craig Saville, Geoff Lynch and Colin Saville all had single figure wins but all credit to Nigel Brown who won his game for Harrison Park.

The final of the Birkenhead and Wirral Afternoon League's Shield Competition was another very close encounter.

The two teams, Higher Tranmere Vets and Manor Road, are both in the top four of the first division and they produced a tremendous final which ultimately the Tranmere team won by a margin of two points overcoming a 10-point handicap.

Most of the individual games were very close, for Tranmere Peter Webster top scored with a 21-12 win while Keith Wharton's 21-13 was the best for Manor Road.

Last Sunday, July 26, the Wallasey Federation team had an excellent win over Colne Valley to overtake their opponents and move into second place in the division.

The matches were played in pouring rain and in both games the home teams had nine winners.

However, the overall score was 418 to 393 and this gave Wallasey the vital four aggregate points.

Les Henderson top scored in the home match at Upton Victory Hall while Matthew Gilmore had a tremendous 21-06 in the away leg at Marsh United.

The final of the Birkenhead and Wirral's Cartwright Cup will be taking place at Upton Victory Hall on Monday, August 10, and the two teams in the final are Gladstone and Manor Road 'A'.

Manor Road 'B' were recently heavily beaten by Tixall in the final of the Cec Hannay Rose Bowl: Will the Manor Road 'A' team be more successful in their attempt to take some silverware to the club?

Last month the Merseyside Veterans team which features seven Wirral players in the team of eight beat three other County teams to qualify for the National finals.

These are taking place on Thursday, August 6 at the Parkside Sports Club in Golbourne, starting at 10am.

The Wirral Junior Merit was won this year by Liam Rhodes who beat Joe Nugent 21-13 in the final.

The beaten semi finalists were Jake McElnay and Mark Wood. The Birkenhead Parks Bowls Forum are again holding their 'Wuds4Fun' event in Birkenhead Park this year. This is on Thursday, 6, Tuesday 11 and Thursday August 13 from 10am to 12 noon.

There is no need to book, it is a free 'drop-in' event.

Any help from bowlers on these days would be much appreciated.