GERALD Merry recovered from a losing position to prevail in this season’s Joe Robinson Trophy final at Cuddington last Thursday.

The Delamere member was forced to play catch-up against Lester Bebbington (Wharton Cons) before recording a 21-15 victory in the final to claim a title reserved for veteran bowlers in the Mid-Cheshire Bowling Association for a second time.

He had beaten Peter Kelly, coincidentally also a regular for the Winsford club, by the same score to triumph back in 2011.

Merry’s afternoon had started with a 21-16 success against former champion Mark Winnington before he then ended Dennis Leather’s latest attempt to claim first prize.

The Comberbach player had told the Guardian beforehand he was determined to improve on a record that had seen him finish as runner-up twice.

Instead he exited at the semi-finals stage for a third time.

To prove that occasionally history does repeat, one of those previous defeats in the last four was against Merry eight years ago.

Bebbington performed impressively to send out in-form Dave Jones (Comberbach) in his opening game before brushing aside Wharton Cons teammate Terry Allman.

However he could not protect a lead established during the early exchanges in the final to thwart Merry.

Kevin Hanwell, from Owley Wood, narrowly missed out 21-20 against Leather in the pick of the quarter-finals matches.

Results

Mid-Cheshire Bowling Association

Joe Robinson Trophy

Thursday, June 6

At Cuddington

Quarter-finals (handicap in brackets): Dave Jones (Com) (1) 17-21 Lester Bebbington (WhC) (1); Tony Milburn (Winn) (2) 16-21 Terry Allman (WhC) (scr); Gerald Merry (Del) (scr) 21-16 Mark Winnington (WhC) (scr); Dennis Leather (Com) 21-20 Kevin Hanwell (OW) (3).

Semi-finals: Bebbington 21-9 Allman; Merry 21-7 Leather.

Final: Merry 21-15 Bebbington.