M&B Cheslyn Hay continued their superb run of form to edge closer to the Dudley Building Society Premier Division title, writes Dave Law.

They bagged a significant victory at Dudley Dell and barring a couple of miracle results the title will be theirs for the first time in a number of years.

Dave East continued his amazing unbeaten run to record his 17th victory on the Dell, and with Keith Carter, Bill Pitt and Paul Evans in inspired form, it was another mightily impressive performance.

ECC face a massive struggle to retain their Premier Division status after they went down 11-5 at home to Nordley Liberals.

However, they gave themselves a massive lift by defeating Short Heath Liberals 10-4 to move one point clear of the relegation battle.

Short Heath will have to defeat Langley at home easily if they are to stay up while ECC travel to Nordley Liberals in their final game.

Results

Premier Division. Dudley Dell 5 M&B Cheslyn Hay 11: J. Westwood 13 P. Evans 21, P. Homer 21 S. Edwards 19, T. Bate 19 T. Allen 21, P. Withey 21 D. Murray 15, C. Cartwright 21 C. Barker 19, D. Wale 16 S. Chapman 21, S. Shaw 16 B. Pitt 21, M. Brown 21 E. Breeze 20, A. Brettell 16 D. East 21, M. Attwood 14 K. Carter 21, R. Clarke 21 S. Chapman 9, S. Ashfield 18 C. Marshman 21. Langley 12 Short Heath Liberal 2: W. Brophy 21 D. parsons 11, B. Brittain 21 A. Fellows 6, I. Carr 21 C. Walton 16, P. Rose 21 T. Rhodes 10, S. Jones 21 M. Worrall 12, J. Dancer 15 V. Bailey 21, R. Jones 19 R. Griffiths 21, P. Jones 21 A. Tapper 15, D. Bone 21 S. Mason 17, J. Elliott 21 M. Ferguson 6, J. Bagnall 21 G. Bateman 14, M. Firkins 21 L. Matthews 15. Windmill 7 Chadsmoor 9: G. Storer 21 C. Grocutt 6, S. Bardsley 21 L. Pritchatt 15, D. Handley 3 M. Ledwidge 21, P. Chester 21 D. Rhodes 9, D. Storer 19 P. Cookson 21, V. Gray 21 M. Evans 17, K. Handley 21 C. Johnson 15, D. Wright 21 K. Anderson 10, A. Dodd 7 K. Keary 21, D. Wright 5 M. Jones 21, B. Cavill 21 D. Chester 20 I. Davies 13 A. Parsons 21.

• The final stages of the Staffordshire County Jessie Gough Doubles competition takes place tomorrow (12 noon start) as 16 of the top pairings battle it out on the Oaklands green.

Top pairs Chris Ward and Gordon Hawkins (Victoria Park) and Craig Barker and Keith Carter (M&B Cheslyn Hay) have made it through to the finals.

The finalists: C. Pittaway & M. Starzak (Codsall Ex Service), P. Martin & J. Melia (Codsall Ex Service), D. Wood & A. Wood (Express & Star), G. Garbett & M. Garbett (Heath Hayes), C. Barker & K. Carter (M&B Cheslyn Hay), Steve Chapman & T. Allen (M&B Cheslyn Hay), Stuart Chapman & L. Hulse (M&B Cheslyn Hay), S. Bodley & D. Bate (Nordley Liberals), R. Nicholls & D. Hopkins (Sedgley Ex Service), J. Williams & A. Fellows (Short Heath Liberal), S. White & G. Wylde (Stile), G. Cook & K. Harris (Stile), J. Walsh & S. Gittins (Stile), C. Ward & G. Hawkins (Victoria Park), M. Orme & M. Orme (Woodfield), C. Halford & A. Aldridge (Woodfield).

• The recent run of high quality bowls finals continued in the Midland Masters as Dean Ferris from the Potteries just edged out Shropshire’s Rich Goddard 21-16 in a pulsating final.

M&B Cheslyn Hay’s Stuart Edwards proved the best of the Staffordshire contingent as he reached the quarter-finals.

Results

Quarter Finals: S. Edwards (Staffordshire) 12 G. Herbert (Warwick & Worcester), W. Owen (Derbyshire) 6 D. Ferris (Potteries) 21, P. Gamsby (Warwick & Worcester) 11 R. Goddard (Shropshire) 21, S. Saunders (Warwick & Worcester) 21 C. Flattley (Shropshire) 20. Semi Finals: G. Herbert 15 D. Ferris 21, R. Goddard 21 S. Saunders 18. Final: D. Ferris 21 R. Goddard 16.

• Dean Ferris now joins the line up for the BCGBA Champion of Champions Competition to be held at the Waterloo Hotel on Saturday 30th September.

Staffordshire’s merit winner Ian Whitehouse will take on Merseyside champion Dave McDermott in his first round match. Current BCGBA champion and last yearÕs winner Andy Spragg is also in the field.

• The prestigious Baggeridge four man team competition starts on Sunday with top teams from Woodfield, Chadsmoor and the Greville Arms competing.

The opening games see Great Barr B take on Cradley Liberal and Dudley Dell taking on Bilston Town.

Monday sees two mouthwatering ties between Chadsmoor A and Boldmere St Michaels and the Greville Arms and Woodfield B.

Opening week games (7pm start) Sunday 23rd September: Great Barr B v Cradley Liberal, Dudley Dell v Bilston Town.

Monday 24th September: Chadsmoor A v Boldmere St Michael, Greville Arms v Woodfield B.

Tuesday 25th September: Heath Hayes v Bell Inn, Essington v Short Heath Liberal.

Thursday 27th September: Hawkins Sports v Coombs Wood, Nordley Liberals B v Staffs Juniors.

Friday 28th September: Woodman Brockmoor v Oaklands, King George V v M&B Portland Road.

• The dry weather didn’t hold out for the finals of the famous Waterloo Autumn Handicap competition in Blackpool as torrential rain turned the green into a swimming pool.

Yorkshire’s Chris Mordue coped best with the atrocious conditions as he claimed his first Waterloo victory with a 21-6 final victory over Mike Holden from Rochdale.

Warwick and Worcester’s Gareth Herbert came off worst in the conditions as his opponent resorted to throwing the bowls (cobbing) to get them through the large puddles.

• The finals of the Walsall League’s Knockout and Hinton Cups take place tomorrow with Boliden taking on heath Hayes on Hawkins and Pelsall A taking on Nordley Liberals on Harrisons.

Pelsall A will be contesting the final of the Hinton Cup for the third consecutive year.