WIRRAL'S two County teams had mixed fortunes in their first games of the season on Sunday.

The Wallasey Association's Federation team had a resounding 26-06 win over East Lancashire.

The home side playing on the Royden Hall green had 11 winners, five of them to single figures, with Les Henderson and Ian Sherbrooke both recording 21-07 victories.

The away side playing, in Darwin, had seven winners with Mike Havern having a 21-06 win in his first game for the Wallasey team and Brian Leonard winning 21-07.

This win should give the team great confidence going forward to their next match against Furness on May 31st.

Unfortunately the Birkenhead and District team suffered a narrow 17-14 defeat to North Derbyshire in their match.

The home side, playing at the Lever Club, had eight winners with Gerry Riley top scoring with a 21-04 win.

But despite a fine 21-10 win by their captain, Nigel Hughes, the away side could only manage four victories.

The team must be hoping for better fortune in their next game against Central Lancashire on Sunday, May 17.

The Lever Club green also saw action on Saturday, as the venue for the finals of this year's Charity Handicap Tournament.

The green was wet but in perfect condition and at the end of a long afternoon the winner was your correspondent, West Kirby's Bill Atkinson, who beat Ray Lynch of Gladstone in the final.

Atkinson had only qualified for the final with three 21-20 wins but he then had two fairly rapid wins in the quarter and semi finals over Cammell Laird's Peter Smith and Heswall RBL's Graham Ellison to reach the final.

Lynch played very well in an emphatic victory over Tixall's Jamie Fitzpatrick in the quarters and then he eased through to the final in a good match against New Brighton Quarry Viking's Jamie Box.

Though Lynch was in the lead for most of the final there was never more than two or three points in it and at the very end the West Kirby player who came through to win this trophy for the second time.

Results:

Quarter finals: W. Atkinson (West Kirby) 21, P. Smith (Cammell Lairds) 07, G. Ellison (Heswall RBL) 21, J. Harrison (New Brighton Quarry Vikings) 20; R. Lynch 21, (Gladstone) 21, J. Fitzpatrick (Tixall) 07; J. Box (New Brighton Quarry Vikings) 21, C. Mounsey (Cammell Lairds) 20.

Semi Finals: Atkinson 21, Ellison 04; Lynch 21, Box 13. Final: Atkinson 21, Lynch 19.

Next Saturday, May 2, the Wirral Junior Handicap Tournaments are being held at the Cammell Laird's Club.

There is an Under 14 event and an Under 18 event. Players are asked to arrive for 11am and the draw will be at 11.30am.

On Monday, May 4, The annual New Brighton Classic is being played on the two greens at the New Brighton Cricket and Bowling Club with the games getting under way at 9.30am.

This is always a popular event and is sure to provide some excellent bowling.

It was very sad to note the passing of one of the long time stalwarts of the game on the Wirral.

Kenny Birch had played for the old Moreton Mens/Sacred Heart, Manor Rd, Oxton Cons and Upton.

He had a lot to do with coaching, as juniors, many of the top players in the local game today.

Not many bowlers can also claim to have been such a fine footballer; he played for Everton, Southampton and later won the Welsh Cup with Bangor City in 1962.

He will be sorely missed and condolences to all his family.