IT WAS unfortunate that the last of this year’s Bowls Flyers Tournaments in Birkenhead Park was also the wettest.

Play was possible but not that pleasant and it is all credit to the players that they produced an excellent series of games, writes Bill Atkinson.

It was very fitting that the final should be between Matt Gilmore and Mick Andrews, both of Tixalls, the two most successful players of this session of these tournaments.

At the end of the day it was Gilmore showing once again that he can master all conditions who took the first prize.

Gilmore had a really tough game at the quarter final stage only just getting past Mold’s John Jones before he had a more convincing win over Joe Edwards of Levers in the semi finals.

Andrews also had a difficult game in the quarter finals beating Colin Portis of Levers before also having a convincing win in the semis over Upton Victory Hall’s Tony Cavanagh.

Though Gilmore won the final the game could have gone either way and it is great credit to the skill of both players that they were able to produce such a high standard of play in these conditions.

Results: Last 16: M Andrews (Tixall) 21, J Ivanoff (Thingwall) 12; C Portis (Levers) 21, T Ratcliffe (Upton Victory Hall) 15; T Cavanagh (Upton Victory Hall) 21, J Eissen (Port Sunlight V&W) 10; J Harrison (New Brighton Quarry Vikings) 21, R Lynch (Gladstone) 20; J Edwards (Levers) 21, D Gilmore (Tixall) 18; W Atkinson (West Kirby) 21, A Buchanan (Magazine) 20; J Jones (Mold) 21, J Lloyd (Heswall RBL) 15; M Gilmore (Tixall) 21, D Brady 12.

Quarter-finals: Andrews 21, Portis 17; Cavanagh beat Harrison; Edwards 21, Atkinson 13; Gilmore 21, Jones 18.

Semi-finals: Andrews 21, Cavanagh 13; Gilmore 21, Edwards 10.

Final: Gilmore 21, Andrews 15.

Thanks are once again due to Colin Saville, who has organised these tournaments throughout the winter.