WINTER returned on Sunday and the very cold weather might have been the reason why there was a slightly lower turnout at this week's Winter Flyers tournament in Birkenhead Park.

West Kirby Victoria's John Cosgrove, normally so consistent, has had a quiet run since the New Year but this week he produced a series of excellent performances when he took first prize getting the better of Upton Victory Hall's Tony Cavanagh in the final.

For Cavanagh this was a case of déjà vue as this was the second successive week he had lost in the final, maybe next week he can go one better.

In the quarter-finals Cosgrove played too well for another West Kirby Victoria player, your correspondent Bill Atkinson, before he then continued his good form with a great win over last week's winner, Tixall's Mick Andrews.

Meanwhile, Cavanagh had had two relatively straightforward wins, firstly against Roger Griffiths over from North Wales and then Our Lady's Ritchie Marshall in the semi-final.

While Cosgrove generally held the lead in the final Cavanagh did all he could and Cosgrove was never able to relax and he probably felt very relieved to clinch his victory.

Results:

Quarter-finals: M Andrews 21, J Harrison 10; J Cosgrove 21, Atkinson 13; R Marshall 21, N Feely 11; Cavanagh 21, Griffiths 10. 

Semi-finals: Cosgrove 21, Andrews 17; Cavanagh 21, Marshall 16.

Final: Cosgrove 21, Cavanagh 15.

Despite not competing this week, Tixall's Jamie Fitzpatrick retains a big lead in the points table with another Tixall player Mick Andrews in second place.