FOR only the fourth time in the Brunner Cup’s 110-year history, the trophy headed to Winsford with Wharton Cons.

It was a classic final that ebbed and flowed but eventually, Wharton triumphed by a slender 12-chalk margin.

They may have lost at Owley Wood, but Northwich’s Castle Sports can bounce straight back by retaining the Mid-Cheshire Premier League title on Friday.

They lead Wharton by 24 chalks going into the final round of fixtures.

Castle’s last game sees them host Alsager and a score above 228 will ensure the league title stays with them, but this defeat will hurt.

> Full Brunner Cup match action and crowd photo gallery

Wharton got off to a flying start and took the lead after four games, returning three winners from the first four jacks.

Glynn Cookson’s 21-12 win over Rob Winnington was the perfect opening and with Tom Vickers beating Andy Hamman 21-9 and Nicola Boulton edging out Jason Cornes 21-18, the Winsford side established a firm lead.

Kevin Duncalf was the only early winner for Castle – beating Danny Nixon 21-17 – but the Northwich outfit then went on the charge.

They won five of the next six games, with Steve Curbishley and Steve Morrey top-scoring with 21-10 and 21-12 wins respectively to turn the match in Castle’s favour.

Wharton’s early lead had been overturned and they now trailed by four chalks with two games left on the green.

Suspense gripped the large Owley Wood crowd, and there was one more twist to come.

It was Gareth Evans and Simon Cookson who brought it home for Wharton, with the former beating David O’Brien 21-11 and the latter seeing off Mike Yearsley 21-15.

That meant games were shared with six wins apiece, but Wharton took a 221-209 aggregate victory.

Brunner Cup Final 2019 full result:

Castle Sports 209 Wharton Cons 221: Rob Winnington 12 Glynn Cookson 21, Andy Hamman 9 Tom Vickers 21, Jason Cornes 18 Nicola Boulton 21, Kevin Duncalf 21 Danny Nixon 17, Matty Hamman 21 Pete Illidge 19, Steve Morrey 21 Martin Kettle 12, Adrian Faulkner 18 Ashley Blackburn 21, Paul Mackie 21 Owen Cookson 19, Steve Curbishley 21 Mark Winnington 10, Ian Howell 21 Graham Donnelly 18, David O’Brien 11 Gareth Evans 21, Mike Yearsley 15 Simon Cookson 21

For Wharton’s Glynn Cookson and Castle Sports’ David O’Brien and Nick Hamman, their attention will turn to the finals of the Waterloo Trophy in Blackpool.

The last-64 round will be staged from 10am on Saturday and all three will be looking to secure a win to take them to the latter stages on Wednesday, September 25.

Meanwhile, attention turned to Comberbach on Sunday when Owley Wood B lifted the Whitby Cup for the third time in four years.

Despite opponents Castle Sports B plying their trade two divisions higher, Owley ran out resounding 259-229 winners to lift the trophy having already secured the Mid-Cheshire League Division Two title.

Rob Williams top scored for Owley Wood with a 21-9 victory.