Bowls: Stand-in Paul Sigsworth takes second Griffin crown

PAUL SIGSWORTH got into the latest Griffin Sixteen only as a reserve but ended up with his second successive victory.

In very mixed weather, the county man from Netherton Con was the most consistent player and deservedly beat off all competition.

In the final, Sigsworth – playing only because Andrew Wadsworth was unavailable – looked to be heading for another comfortable success when he powered into a 16-6 lead.

But opponent Frank Greenwood clawed his way back to 16-15 down, helped along the way as Sigsworth twice struck and hit his own bowl to leave Greenwood two on each occasion.

However, Sigsworth recovered to win the next five points to seal a 21-15 success in the event sponsored by Carron McGrath.

First round – W Dews 16 F Greenwood 21, R Whitwam 20 M Bramall 21, K MIdwood 21 M Richardson 14, S Parkin 15 D Beeby 21, P Ramsden 17 P Sigsworth 21, B Tinker 21 S Rigby 16, A Crowther 16 B Walsh 21, M Wood 17 D Rae 21.

Quarter-finals – Greenwood 21 Bramall 12, Midwood 19 Beeby 21, Sigsworth 21 Tinker 8, Walsh 8 Rae 21.

Semi-finals – Greenwood 21 Beeby 9, Sigsworth 21 Rae 8.

Final – Greenwood 15 Sigsworth 21.

In the first qualifier for the Examiner Rosebowl, there were eight going through. Results were:

Preliminary – M Wood 19 P Sigsworth 31, R Sutton 31 B Walsh 25, M Hampshaw 31 S Parkin 23, W Dews 29 G Sykes 31, R Mozley 28 B Morley 31, R Crowther 28 K Midwood 31, S Stoney 18 J Dyson 31, S Rigby 15 D Rae 31, M Bramall 31 F Greenwood 25, J Abbott scr B Gibson 31, A Wadsworth scr J Ineson 31, C Gant 18 G Fellows 31, R Wormald 31 C Allen 17, G Sigsworth 20 P Read 31.

First round – S Hirst 31 J Ollerenshaw 17, Sigsworth 29 Sutton 31, Hampshaw 19 Sykes 31, Morley 31 Midwood 24, Dyson 31 Rae 23, Bramall 31 Gibson 26, Ineson 31 Fellows 23, Wormald 31 Read 24.

Draw for this coming Sunday’s Sixteen (11.00) which is sponsored by Andrew Wadsworth (odds in brackets):

B Morley (4) v J Hatzer (33),Š C Allen (20) v G McMahon (10), J Ollerenshaw (20) v H Ellis (40), Š E Haigh (4) v D Walkden (9/2), R Brook (7/2) v S Pollard (25), R Taylor (66) v M Hinchliffe (6), J Abbott (33) v G Sykes (66), R Mozley (8) v B Gibson (14).