FAVOURITE Jack Dyson is through to the intermediate stages of the Bernard Sigsworth Memorial Trophy at the Griffin Bowling Club.

The county bowler defeated Keith Midwood to go through, having received a bye to the first round of the 31-up competition which carries £650 in prize money thanks to the Sigsworth family.

The big surprise in the opening matches, going completely against the bookmaker’s odds, was Mark Wood losing to club president Alan Hirst 31-29.

Alan then went on to lose 31-20 to his son Steve.

Preliminary round – Craig Gant scr Paul Ingleby 31, Barry Gibson 31 Peter Ramsden 26, Donald Rae 19 Brian Morley 31, John Hatzer 22 John Ollerenshaw 31, Steve Hirst 31 Richard Brook 17, Mark Wood 29 Alan Hirst 31, Peter Kain 31 Tony Marren 14, Roger Crowther 31 Mark Bramall 28.

First round – John Abbott 20 Ray Whitwam 31, Barry Tinker 26 Dave Scott 31, Jack Dyson 31 Keith Midwood 14, Mark Richardson 31 Peter Hopkinson 21, Ingleby 31 Gibson 14, Morley 31 Ollerenshaw 27, S Hirst 31 A Hirst 20, Kain 31 Crowther 25.

After this weekend’s second preliminary matches the 16 qualifying players going through to the intermediate games on March 27 will be re-drawn.

Sunday’s second set of preliminaries start at 11am.

Preliminary round (with odds in brackets) – A Patrick Conneely (100) v Dave Walkden (12), B George Fellows (100) v John Ineson (50), C Frank Greenwood (20) v Scott Fisher (6), D Denis Tattersley (66) v Steve Parkin (100), E Andy Cairns (12) v Ronnie Wormald (10), F Wayne Dews (20) Gerald Sykes (100), G Duncan Reeves (8) v Peter Read (50), H Richard Mozley (20) v Tony Wilson (66).

First round – Steve Pollard (100) v Eddie Haigh (10), Geoff Sigsworth (100) v Robert Taylor (100), Gareth McMahon (20) v Paul Sigsworth (16), Kieran O’Prey (33) v Roy Sutton (25), Winner A v Winner B, C v D, E v F, G v H.

DRAW for the Ladies Open at Thornhill C&BC on Saturday, March 19 (10am) is:

10.00 – B Toon v D Bray, J Mallinson v E Wooltorton, L Gledhill v F Beaumont, K Atkinson v S Fox.

10.30 – J Buckham v J Gee, H Rangeley v L Carter.

10.45 – J Best v R Overend, M Lockwood v P Ratcliffe.

11.15 – J Roper v J Smith, N Hughes v B Wherret.

11.30 – LWilcock v J Naylor, K Hill v K Field.

12.00 – C Kaye v Y Sykes, C Harpin v F Bleazard.

12.15 – K Whitefoot v L Drury, K Gant v D Hughes.

Waterloo Bowling Club are still desperately searching for new players for their ladies teams.

They launched an appeal earlier this year to try and recruit new players for both their A and B teams.

Unfortunately, the response so far has been limited and, with the season nearing, they would very much like to hear from anyone who would like to get involved.

Those interested should contact Waterloo’s ladies bowling secretary Mary Toth on 01484 322267.