WARRINGTON’S Carl Armitage was defeated by Shrewsbury’s Ritchie Goddard in the final of Saturday’s Tommy Garaven Memorial Trophy Invitation 32 at Tetley Walker.

Armitage, fourth favourite at the start of the day, would have been kicking himself after taking an early lead and still looking in charge at 17-12.

But when Ritchie, the event’s third favourite, got hold of the jack again he did not let go until the game was won, rattling up chalks – including three doubles – at five successive ends to take the £750 victor’s prize.

Armitage, who had led 6-1, 10-4 and 13-7 at various stages of the final, picked up £450 for his day’s efforts that included a 21-15 semi-final success against Tommy Johnstone, while Ritchie ended the hopes of Garry Ellis 21-19 in the last four.

Holder Gregg Smith went out to Ellis earlier in the day and featured in the event’s most memorable match in the opening round.

Smith was playing game against Andy Hayes, a last-minute replacement for Simon Coupe, when he struck corner to corner, knocking Andy’s bowl off clean to win the game 21-20.

A raffle, held when play stopped to watch the Grand National on TV, raised £555 for the intensive care unit at Warrington Hospital.

n WARRINGTON and District Senior Bowls Association's Bruce the Bed King Challenge Cup starts on Wednesday.

Fixtures for Wednesday, 1.30pm start: Section A, first round: 1, CSC (OWM) (15) v Grange B (6) at Eagle; 2, Tetleys (0) v St Albans (21) at OWM; 3, St Elphins A (21) v Bewsey A (9) at Monk Sports; 4, Rylands A (0) v Grange A (0) at Tetleys; 5, Grappenhall ESM A (12) v Eagle A (3) at Grange; 6, Woolston RBL A (15) v Monk Sports (12) at Padgate.

Second round: Crosfields A (18) v Padgate (18) at Bewsey.

Section B, first round: 1, Crosfields B (12) v Eagle B (15) at St Albans; 2, Stockton Heath B (-3) v Rylands C (3) at Woolston; 3, Bewsey B (6) v Grappenhall ESM B (0) at Rylands; Rylands B (0) v Stockton Heath C (9) at Grappenhall; 5, Richmonds (3) v Victoria B (18) at St Elphins; 6, Woolston RBL B (21) v Stockton Heath A (15) at Victoria.

Second round: St Elphins B v Victoria A at Crosfields.

Bruce the Bed King Challenge Cup second round fixtures for Wednesday, April 29, 1.30pm start: Section A: Winner 1 v winner 2 at Rylands, winner 3 v winner 4 at Victoria, winner 5 v winner 6 at Tetleys.

Section B: Winner 1 v winner 2 at Bewsey, winner 3 v winner 4 at St Elphins, winner 5 v winner 6 at Crosfields.

n BOWLS league representatives and competition organisers are welcome to submit results, fixtures, previews and news dates for publication in Warrington and at warringtonguardian.co.uk. Send to mparsons@guardiangrp.co.uk by 10am Monday