TWO Warrington bowlers will test themselves among the country’s elite on Saturday when Grange Sports Club hosts a national competition.

King and Queen’s Andrew Wightman and Tetleys crack shot John Durrands will be among 64 of the nation’s finest bowlers when they tackle the All British Senior Individual Merit.

The prestigious event, known among players as the All-England Championships, will start at 10am.

Reaching the last four of the Lancashire Merit early in the season earned places for the Warrington pair, who both face Greater Manchester opponents in the opening round.

Durrands will go toe to toe with Gareth Williams, while Wightman will square up with Andy Raymond.

Warrington’s last winner was Tommy Johnstone in 2002 when he overcame Steve Pratt from North Midlands in Coventry.

Johnstone, who now lives in Poynton, is in the 64 this time too.

The Merit’s history goes back to 1910.

Warrington’s Federation of Crown Green Bowls team lost heavily against Furness in Division Five at the weekend, ending any realistic hopes of promotion and leaving them needing a strong performance against Airedale B in the final game on August 19 to avoid relegation.

The Warrington away team came a cropper on the tricky Lindal green that is considered a banker for the hosts.

Only Steve Gilfedder, 21-12, and Ian Field, 21-11, got into double figures in 12 losses as Warrington fell 252-96.

The home team succeeded 220-188 at Woolston with eye-catching cards from Colin Dean, 21-6, and Damian Morrison, 21-8, but Furness celebrated a 440-316 victory overall and claimed 23 points to Warrington’s nine.

Result:

Furness 252 v Warrington 96 at Lindal: Barry Lowden 21 Matt Humphrys 8, Graham Rigg 21 Daniel Bennett 8, Tony Whitehouse 21 Neil Quinn 8, Martin Barrow 21 Julie Chapman 3, Kieren Clark 21 Chris Ure 9, John Reilly 21 Ian Field 11, Chris Irvine 21 John Garrett Snr 8, Danny Rogers 21 Sandra Gilfedder 8, Kevin Toal 21 Steve Peters 5, Darren Woodend 21 Simon Harrison 9, Paul Thompson 21 John Garrett Jnr 7, Paul Clark 21 Steve Gilfedder 12.

Warrington 220 v Furness 188 at Woolston: Chris Goodhand 5 Danny Edmonds 21, Jon Charlton 18 Adam Miller 21, John Taylor 21 Stuart Aspinall 17, Dave Twigg 21 Peter Harris 14, Mike Quayle 21 Ryan Smith 14, Colin Dean 21 Steve Fullard 6, Mark Budworth 14 Andy Rigg 21, Brendan Brady 20 Colin Knipe 21, Lee Johnstone 21 Callum Sharples 11, Damian Morrison 21 Jeff Hinde 8, Martin Deakin 16 Jon Richardson 21, Anthony Gatley 21 Roger Barrow 13.

Meanwhile, the Warrington and North Cheshire Bowls Association Challenge Cup Final on September 8 will be contested between Tetley A and King and Queen A.

Tetley ended the hopes of Woolston A, with Eagle B also bowing out in Saturday’s semi-finals at Crosfields.

For King and Queen it keeps hopes alive of a knockout double, having also reached the Silcock Cup Final against St Oswalds A on the Crosfields number three green on Saturday, August 4, at 2pm.

Results:

Warrington and North Cheshire Association Monday League:

Section A: Grange A (2) 277 Rylands A (0) 259, King & Queen A (2) 267 King & Queen B (0) 199, Woolston A (2) 261 Burtonwood A (0) 214, Red Lion A (2) 261 Alford Hall A (0) 216, Tetley A (2) 257 St Oswalds A (0) 208.

Section B: Cadishead Cons (10) 221 Stag Inn A (4) 210, Grappenhall B (11) 233 Grappenhall A (3) 207, Culcheth Sports A (7) 208 Penketh Tavern (8) 217, Alford Hall B (11) 231 Woolston B (3) 189.

Section C: Vulcan BC (13) 245 Bulls Head A (1) 168, Padgate T&BC (11) 229 Grange B (3) 200, Monk Sports A (6) 215 Tetley B (9) 223, St Albans (11) 236 Penketh Park (3) 198.

Section D: Burtonwood B (9) 226 Red Lion B (5) 211, St Oswalds C (12) 240 Crosfields A (2) 198, Tetley C (4) 199 Longbarn BC (11) 239, Richmonds A (5) 213 Eagle A (10) 229.

Section E: Grange C (5) 205 Padgate Canaries (10) 229, Brooklands (6) 214 Irish Club (9) 219, Stag Inn B (6) 210 Richmonds B (9) 221.

Warrington Parks’ League:

Section A: Penketh (0) 172 St Elphins One (3) 188, St Elphins Two (0) 156 Bank Park Bluesky (3) 187, Victoria Park One (0) 161 Stockton Heath One (3) 196, Stockton Heath Three (0) 166 Victoria New Town (3) 185.

Warrington Women’s Evening Bowls League:

Section A: Monks A 176 Grange A 189, Alford 197 St Oswalds A 133, Red Lion 149 Padgate B 179, Burtonwood B 166 St Albans A 134, St Oswalds 195 Woolston B 133.

Section B: Grange C 157 Tetleys A 182, Vulcan A 172 Vulcan B 155, Culcheth A 167 Monks B 170, Woolston A 155 Grange C 151, Padgate A 146 Penketh 204.

Section C: Croft 181 Stag 143, GESM A 151 GESM B 169, St Albans B 167 Grange B 167, Brooklands 167 OWM B 180, OWM A 176 Culcheth B 106.

Warrington Sunday Night Mixed Pairs Bowls League:

Section A: GESM 142 St Oswalds B 127, Penketh 104 Tetleys B 150, St Oswalds A 111 Butonwood B 161, King and Queen 131 Eagle 154.

Section B: Burtonwood A 137 Woolston 141, Tetleys A 135 Red Lion 145, Padgate 164 Victoria Park 116, Vulcan A 144 Monks 143, Grange B 127 Vulcan B 136.

Warrington and District Seniors Bowls Association:

Section A: Rylands 136 Stockton Heath B 142, Woolston A 176 Richmonds 93, Grappenhall B 153 Monks 131, Tetley 159 Grappenhall A 125, Eagle A 175 Padgate 112, Crosfields A 136 Bewsey A 156, Grange A 136 St Elphins A 125.

Section B: Bewsey B 138 Crosfields B 141, St Albans 159 Eagle B 150, Grange B 174 Stockton Heath C 119, St Elphins B 124 Woolston B 146, Stockton Heath A 135 Victoria A 147, Victoria B 157 Victoria C 93.