ORFORD War Memorial A won the Challenge Cup for only the third time in their history in Saturday's baking hot conditions at Monk Sports Club.

They defeated St Oswalds 183-165 in the final of the premier Warrington and North Cheshire Bowls Association knockout competition, following on from St Albans beating Eagle B 189-167 to lift the Finlayson Cup in the curtain-raiser of crown green bowls' double-header showpiece.

Come the 3pm start time for the Challenge Cup Final, the green was proving very hard to play given how quick it was but OWM went on to win the cup for the first time in 45 years.

OWM struck the first blow, with Stephen Glover playing well to account for Lee Johnstone 21-13.

Man-of-the-match Conor Flaherty quickly followed up winning 21-10.

St Oswalds stayed in contention by taking the other two games in the first four, with John Garrett edging a fine tussle with Peter Goodrum 21-20 and captain Dave Penketh winning 21-15.

OWM then took a firm grip on the trophy by winning three games out of the middle four with victories by Andy Pearce, reserve John Strain and George Curran.

St Oswalds' sole win in that spell coming from Mark Budworth, defeating Owen Sorfleet 21-14.

OWM held a 29-shot lead with the final two games to go on.

Larry Wells returned St Oswalds' best win on the day, 21-8 against Lee Downing, but Terry Glover saw the match through winning 21-19 to give the Orford team an 18-shot victory.

Results: St Oswalds 165 v Orford WM 183: L Johnstone 13 S Glover 21, D Wright 10 C Flaherty 21, J Garrett Jnr 21 P Goodrum 20, D Penketh 21 M Furber 15, C Goodhand 15 A Pearce 21, S Goodwin 14 J Strain 21, M Budworth 21 O Sorfleet 14, L Taylor 15 G Curran 21, L Wells 21 L Downing 8, D Bennett 19 T Glover 21. Man of the match: Conor Flaherty

Warrington Guardian: Orford War Memorial captain Keith Williams receives the Warrington and North Cheshire Bowls Association Challenge Cup from the league chairman Colin HartOrford War Memorial captain Keith Williams receives the Warrington and North Cheshire Bowls Association Challenge Cup from the league chairman Colin Hart

Eagle B started well in the Finlayson Cup Final, taking three games out of the first four with Terry Long adapting to the green conditions from the off claiming an easy 21-11 victory.

Further success came by the way of 21-17 and 21-14 wins, with only Phil Ellis replying for St Albans with a fine performance winning 21-14 to keep his team in contention.

The middle four then saw St Albans take control, winning all four games with a man-of-the-match performance from Louis Allen who overturned a large deficit to seal a 21-18 win.

Mike Spencer and captain Rob Lawrenson won the last two games to give St Albans a 22-shot victory.

Results: St Albans 189 v Eagle B 167: S Heath 11 T Long 21, B Ellis Snr 17 P Stopforth 21, P Ellis 21 B Felton 14, M Maxfield 14 P Hollett Jnr 21, G Horton 21 G Connor 15, C Gallagher 21 D Chriscoli 10, M Ellison 21 R Boardman 19, L Allen 21 P Hollett Snr 18, M Spencer 21 A Davies 19, R Lawrenson 21 G Owens 9. Man of the match: L Allen.

Warrington Guardian: St Albans captain Rob Lawrenson receives the Finlayson Cup from Warrington and North Cheshire Bowls Association president Ted GreenSt Albans captain Rob Lawrenson receives the Finlayson Cup from Warrington and North Cheshire Bowls Association president Ted Green