WIRRAL bowlers dominated the Merseyside County side that won the BCGBA Endsleigh Senior Supplementary County Championship at the weekend.

Nick Burridge and John Finch (Gladstone), Steve Davies (Heswall RBL), John Hignett Jnr (Kings 2000), Chris Barton (Quarry Vikings) and Anthony Thompson (West Kirby Victoria) travelled down to Pennfields Bowling Club in Wolverhampton where they beat a strong North Midlands side, who had plenty of vocal support, by 18 in the final.

Liverpool bowlers Danny Barwise and Mike Tunstall made up the eight-a-side team.

Lever Club got revenge on Tixall for their Leverhulme Cup defeat when their 'B' sides met in the final of the Wirral & District Graham White Cup at Upton Victory Hall.

With both sides almost certain to win their respective divisions in the Birkenhead League, third division leaders Lever Club 'B' hung on to victory by 8 shots having received a 24-handicap start from their second division opponents.

At the half-way point there was only 4 shots between the two sides and despite claiming seven of the twelve winning cards, and the best card of the night from reserve Tony Collier who won 21-10, Tixall came up against a strong Lever Club side that ended worthy winners.

Lever Club 'B' (24) 231, Tixall 'B' (scr) 223: Mike Eccles 21, Ray Evans 11; Chris Eccles 21, Tony Scarratt 15; Phil Richards 10, Tony Collier 21; Robby Preston 11, Steve Telford 21; Dave Sharp 14, Paul Williams 21; Karen Smith 13, Trevor Plant 21; Andy Eccles 21, Dave Williams 16; Ted Sullivan 21, Jamie Hankin 14; Robin Probbing 21, Robert Rogers 20; Malcolm Probbing 16, Robin May 21; Neil Humphries 18, Mike Halsey 21; John Sinkinson 20, Peter Hughes 21.

Second division Sandridge made full use of their 36-handicap start against Hoylake Central in the final of the Wallasey Association President Cup allowing their first division opponents to pull back just eight shots at a well supported Royden Hall.

Hoylake Central got off to a great start, reducing the deficit to just six after the opening four blocks with Paul Gartland and Tommy Walker both handing in 21-8 winning cards.

When Keith Etches also posted a 21-8 win for Hoylake Central, things were looking good for the first division outfit but a timely 21-9 response from Jim O’Connor settled the Sandridge nerves who went into the back four with a 17-shot advantage.

Three more winners for Sandridge put the match beyond the reach of Hoylake Central who once again have to settle for runners-up spot having lost in the final of the Harold Jones Cup to West Kirby Victoria by seven.

Sandridge (36) 232, Hoylake Central (scr) 204: Chris Morrison 14, Chris Hegg 21; Andy Wainwright 8, Paul Gartland 21; Barbara McBurney 21, Steve Lyons 18; Mo Saville 8, Tommy Walker 21; Phil Taylor 21, Ritchie Davies 17; Jim O’Connor 21, Peter Dodd 9; Colin Cousins 21, John Davies 13; Grace Mason 8, Keith Etches 21; Noreen Bunting 21, Ian Hamilton 16; Mark Bunting 11, Ken Palin 21; Rick Murray 21, Dean Cullen 13; John Cosgrove 21, Rick Keeley 13.

On Saturday, three of our local sides were in Cheshire Norman Cup action. Manor Road beat Winsford Cons by 6 and will join Heswall RBL in the semi-finals after they defeated Lever Club by 28.

On Thursday night, the Wallasey Association play their Wallasey News Cup Final at Harrison Park, commencing at 6.15pm. Queens Royal, second in the first division table, take on third placed Manor Road in what should be a close match. Meanwhile the return of the Wallasey Association Junior Merit has been put on hold and is now scheduled for September.

The Birkenhead & Wirral League's Cec Hannay Rose Bowl takes place on Friday night at Royden Hall in a change to the advertised venue.

First division sides Lever Club and Quarry Vikings will both start off scratch in what is anticipated to be a close match.

With the host venue having floodlights, play will get underway at 6.30pm and a bar will be available for spectators coming along to support this event played in memory of a great man.

Dates for the diary – Wednesday, August 17 - Stott Cup Final - Cammell Laird v Sacred Heart at Albany; Friday, August 19 – Cartwright Cup Final – Oxton Conservative Club 'B' v Wallasey RBL at Cammell Laird and Sunday, August 21 – British Parks Semi-Finals – Wallasey v Greater Manchester at Harrison Park.

Congratulations to West Kirby Victoria on winning the Birkenhead & Wirral Crown Green Bowling League Division One championship for a third consecutive year.

The 'Vics' confirmed their hat-trick of titles with a resounding 93 shot away win at Bromborough Pool.

It is with great sadness to report on the passing of Eric Boyle.

Eric was a stalwart of Wirral bowls and instrumental in the success of some of our top bowlers today as he did so much to develop junior bowling.

He was president of the Bebington & District Bowling League from 1993 to 1997 having served as chairman from 1984 to 1992, vice-president and Life Member of the Wirral & District Crown Green Bowling Association and vice-president of the Birkenhead & Wirral Crown Green Bowling League.

Eric, 95, passed away peacefully at Daleside Nursing Home and his funeral took place on Tuesday.