THIS week's Bowls Flyers Tournament in Birkenhead Park was played in appalling conditions and all credit to the players who carried on through rain and wind.

Tixall’s Matt Gilmore showed that he can do well whatever the conditions when he won the final against his team-mate at Tixalls, Jamie Fitzpatrick, who was the runner-up for the second consecutive week.

Gilmore had beaten Upton Victory Hall’s Tony Cavanagh in the quarter-finals before he had a good win over Tixall’s Mick Andrews in the semi-final.

Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, had two hard-fought wins, firstly over Lever’s Colin Portis in the quarters and then New Brighton Quarry Viking’s John Harrison in the semi-final.

By the time the final was played, conditions were probably at their worst, but the two players were still able to produce a good final with Gilmore taking it 21-17.

This win is Gilmore’s second since the New Year and means that he returns to the top of the table.

Results: Quarter-finals: J Fitzpatrick (Tixall) 21, C Portis (Lever) 17; J Harrison (New Brighton Quarry Vikings) 21, W Atkinson (West Kirby) 13; M Andrews (Tixall) 21, D Briscoe (Whittingham) 17; M Gilmore (Tixall) 21, T Cavanagh (Upton Victory Hall) 16.

Semi-finals: Fitzpatrick 21, Harrison 18; Gilmore 21, Andrews 18.

Final: Gilmore 21, Fitzpatrick 17.