CHESHIRE lost their British Senior County Championship opener against defending champions North Midlands by the narrowest of margins on Sunday.

The teams were separated by a single chalk on aggregate.

Paul Dooley, of Castle, was one of nine winners in the home leg at Poynton, where Cheshire won 235-189.

Glynn Cookson (Wharton Cons) was on duty there too.

Meanwhile players from clubs in the Mid-Cheshire Bowling Association made up the majority of the county’s team for the away game at Dunlop in Coventry.

Castle’s Andy Hamman was chosen afterwards as the pick of those following a 21-19 victory against Steve Pratt (Bedworth).

Clubmate Mike Yearsley and Tom Vickers, of Wharton Cons, were the visitors’ other winners in a 244-197 reverse.

Captain Rob Winnington lost to 19, and Castle teammate Steve Morrey to 18.

Pete Illidge, who has switched to Wharton Cons from Rudheath for this season, was rewarded for his form last summer – which included a stunning success in the Cheshire Senior Merit – with a place in the side alongside son Joe.

The presence of Matt Thurlwell, from Comberbach, means four clubs from the Premier Division were represented.

Merseyside, Cheshire’s opponents next month, ran out comfortable victors against Shropshire in the other Section Two encounter, winning by 62.

Results

Endsleigh British Senior County Championship

Section Two

Sunday, May 6

Cheshire 235-189 North Midlands (at Poynton Sports)

Tommy Johnstone (Houldsworth WMC 21-16 Dane Hopwood (Newdigate)

Noel Burrows (Sale Excelsior) 12-21 Russell Prosser (Copsewood)

Dave Phillips (Lloyd Hotel) 21-14 Jordie Baddeley (Atherstone Cons)

Jamie Bramley (Lloyd Hotel) 17-21 Darren Plenderleith (Newdigate)

Glynn Cookson (Wharton Cons) 17-21 Andy Gibbs (Copsewood)

Carl Armitage (Houldsworth WMC) 21-18 Matt Horton (Atherstone Cons)

Pete Smith (Lloyd Hotel) 21-8 Noel Bates (Haunchwood)

Ryan Sandiham (Lloy Hotel) 21-10 Michael Warrington (Phoenix Fox)

Neil Smith (Houldsworth WMC) 21-11 Ben Percival (Atherstone Cons)

Paul Dooley (Castle) 21-20 Peter Varney (Newdigate)

Michael McDonnell (Lloyd Hotel) 21-15 Paul Ward (Copsewood)

Ben Phillips (Lloyd Hotel) 21-13 Stuart Perry (Attleborough)

North Midlands 244-197 Cheshire (at Dunlop No.2)

Steve Pratt (Bedworth) 19-21 Andy Hamman (Castle)

Jamie Dunn (Newdigate) 21-16 Jason Cornes (Castle)

Paul Lamb (Copsewood) 21-10 Dave O'Brien (Castle)

Mark Burdett (Copsewood) 21-18 Steve Moorey (Castle)

Anton Davis (Foleshill Gas) 16-21 Tom Vickers (Wharton Cons)

Tyler Lewis (Haunchwood) 21-16 Daniel Nixon (Wharton Cons)

Harry Chapman (Baddesley Coll) 20-21 Mike Yearsley (Castle)

Darren Tring (Haunchwood) 21-6 Joe Illidge (Rudheath)

Andy Parker (Haunchwood) 21-19 Rob Winnington (Castle)

Scott Horbury (Walsgrave) 21-15 Pete Illidge (Wharton Cons)

Shane Day (Haunchwood) 21-17 Matt Thurlwell (Comberbach)

Stuart Nash (Haunchwood) 21-17 Lee Johnstone (Houldsworth WMC)

North Midlands win 433-432 on aggregate