WARRINGTON and North Cheshire Bowls Association’s top team prize will be up for grabs on Saturday.

The Challenge Cup final will be a ‘David and Goliath’ affair, with the showdown being played at Burtonwood Bowling Club for the first time.

And it will be part of a ‘double header’ with the Finlayson Cup Final taking place as the curtain-raiser.

The Burtonwood green has been the best playing surface in the Warrington league during the 2023 season and sets the finals up for some stirring action from these Monday night section teams.

The Finlayson Cup Final will start at noon, 11.30am practice, and features Grappenhall (+3), who are well positioned in Section B and looking for promotion, taking on Tetleys D (+2).

And then the Challenge Cup will commence at 3pm (practice from 2.30pm) and is between current Section A table toppers Alford Hall A (+1) and Section C leaders Longbarn (+4).

League chiefs say the final has all the potential hallmarks of the 1988 FA Cup Final when the ‘crazy gang’ of Wimbledon defeated the ‘culture club’ of Liverpool.

Alford are going for the elusive Monday Night League and cup double and will want to put their recent disappointment of losing the Silcock Cup Final behind them.

Longbarn, who ‘ground share’ with St Oswalds, will be appearing in their first Challenge Cup Final and will be looking to defy their underdogs status.

Challenge Cup teams: Longbarn v Alford Hall A: 1 W Sixsmith v D Roberts, 2 M Cooke v L Sullivan, 3 Nick Burrows v J Brown, 4 D Conroy v M Bishop, 5 Neil Burrows v J Hallett, 6 N Jorden v C Morris, 7 J Lockett v D Carroll, 8 P Bate v M Mannion, 9 G Lee v M Brown, 10 N Bouch v K Chapman.

Meanwhile, following four qualifying rounds, the final of the Bulls Head Crown Green Bowls Competition will take place on Sunday, 1pm start.

Chris Ashton will be defending the title from last year. Spectators are welcome with refreshments available throughout the day.

Last 16 draw: 1 H Horton v D Morrison, 2 D Penketh v J Charlton, 3 J Bradshaw v N Hoult, 4 R Lawrenson v M Dobson, 5 L Wells v L Johnstone, 6 S Buckley Mellor v C Ashton, 7 S Gilfedder v R Bate, 8 L Taylor v A Manuel.