Sig-ly the best!

Jun 24 2008 by Linzi Nicholson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

PAUL SIGSWORTH rules supreme once again in Huddersfield bowling circles.

The Netherton Con ace powered to success to win the 111th Huddersfield Merit, sponsored by TJ Garden Products, with a 21-18 victory against Moldgreen Conservative Club’s Garry Senior.

And it was a victory the pre-tournament favourite craved as he equalled clubmate Ashley Daykin’s modern-day record of four Merit titles after previous successes in 1989, 1998 and 2004.

But he was made to work hard for his £300 winner’s cheque by a terrier-like performance from Senior.

Roared on by a strong vocal contingent from Moldgreen, Senior fought back from 18-10 down in the final to level at 18-18 and had the Yorkshire county player worried.

Sigsworth said: “If Garry had got a pair towards the end then he would have had me rocking.

“But great credit to him, he never gave up and played a great final.”

Senior, who was 16-7 down in his first round match against Hemplow’s Terry Randerson, before producing an 11-break and coming through to win 21-18, added: “I think I’ve had to come from behind in every game but I really felt I could go out and win it.

“It’s disappointing to have got so close but I’ve had some great support from my clubmates.”

Sigsworth’s victory at an excellently-staged Almondbury Liberal Club was the same venue where he won his first ever event – the Works Handicap in 1986 – and came just six days after he lifted the Conservative Merit at Paddock I and C.

The strong wind made playing conditions very difficult and if players got within a couple of foot from the jack then they were good woods.

In the semi-finals, Senior beat Netherton Con’s Tony Marren, who had beaten Yorkshire Merit champion Nicky White in the qualifying round after a close tussle, while Sigsworth beat Phil Hallas, of Thongsbridge, 21-11.

Elsewhere, the wait for Huddersfield Merit glory goes on for John Wright and Steven Haigh who were beaten by Senior and Sigsworth respectively in the quarter-finals.

Haigh, however, gained a slight consolation when he was named the ‘best dressed bowler’ along with Sigsworth, and they shared the £50 voucher from Laurie Hopkins Menswear.

Last year’s runner-up Jack Dyson lost out to Jonathan Sykes in the first round while fellow young gun Mark Fletcher produced some scintillating woods against Hallas but lost out 21-19.