Bowls: Middleport Park on way to fifth Sentinel Cup crown

SENTINEL Cup-holders Middleport Park are well on their way to winning the trophy for a fifth successive year after progressing to the last eight of this season's competition.

The closest finish in the last round of games saw Bucknall Ex edge out hosts Barlaston Plume of Feathers by one point.

But Middleport had no such problems as they swept aside Fegg Hayes Two 199-116.

Results: Barlaston Plume 165, Bucknall Ex 166; Meir Kings Arms beat Clough Hall w/o; New Stoke Park 132, Bucknall Private 186; Fegg Hayes One 134, Birches Head Hotel One 181; Milton Recs 176, Burslem Suburban One 183; Victoria Park Stafford 205, Birches Head Gardeners 139; Florence 210, Cheadle 104; Middleport Park 199, Fegg Hayes Two 116 .

POTTERIES county bowler Dean Ferris is through to the fourth round of the John Ryecroft Trophy in Skipton.

The Middleport ace was a 21-13 third-round winner over Sheffield's Andrew Walker.

Also progressing was Graeme Wilson, the Oldham ace who is the game's most prolific tournament winner.

Third round: Ashley Daykin (Huddersfield) 21, Philip Holroyd (Halifax) 10; Graeme Wilson (Oldham) 21, Mike Tunstall (Liverpool) 13; Dean Ferris (Middleport) 21, Andrew Walker (Sheffield) 13; Chris Hill (Sheffield) 21, Tony Green (Leeds) 15.

BIDDULPH'S Barry Kirk will take part in tonight's star-studded qualifying heat for the Nursery BC Open in Stockport. He will line-up alongside some of the game's biggest names in Tommy Heyes, Lee Lawton, Ashley Daykin and Neil Jenkinson.

THREE Stoke-on-Trent players are competing in next week's £14,000 Isle of Man Men's Classic.

Barry Booth, Roy Price and Alan France will be chasing a first prize of £3,000 when the event gets underway on Friday.

THE first Potteries Challenge Cup tournament is underway and players have until June 28 to complete their second-round matches.

Draw: John Gosnell (Meir Social) v Matt Stevenson (Birches Head Gardeners); Joe Melvin (Middleport Park) v Liz Rowley (Bucknall Private); Todd Ridge (Florence) v Peter Hulse Jr (Florence); Andy Owen (Birches Head Hotel) v Martin Hallam (Meir Social); Barry Booth (Middleport Park) v Josh Towey (Florence); Mark Norcup (Birches Head Gardeners) v Roy Price (Milton Recs); Andy Ferris (Congleton Park) v Darren Clutton (Meir Social); Craig Podmore (Meir Social) v Jon Price (Florence); Darren Beardmore (Florence) v Joe Williamson (Birches Head Hotel); Mark Melvin (Middleport Park) v Keith Williamson (Birches Head Hotel); Mark Leadbeater (Meir Social) v Fred Donaldson (Clough Hall); Phil Owen (Birches Head Hotel) v Kerry Morris (Birches Head Hotel); John Mountford (Clough Hall) v Chris Kearns (Middleport Park); Lee Brown (Meir Social) v Harry Walklate (Trent Vale); Lee Wooldridge (Meir Social) v Paul Brown (Meir Kings Arms); Gary Owen (Birches Head Hotel) v Aaron Steele (Florence).

GERARD Hamer from Fegg Hayes is the new holder of the North Staffs Junior merit. He beat George Padmore of Florence in the final at Wolstanton WMC.

CONGLETON Railway failed to make any in-roads on the leading teams in the Manchester Super League when they went down to Sale Excelsior 172-165.

Match scores (Railway names first): John Quinn 21, Chris Jenkins 20; Daniel Baines 19, B Smith 21; Martin Walker 13, D Stanway 21; Dave Read 21, J Hartshorn 12; Roger Morgan 21, Jeff Brown 12; Craig Shore 16, Paul Chamberlain 21; Mark Foster 21, Dave West 10; Dave O'Brien 10, Chris McDonald 21; John McDonnell 9, Darren Smith 21; Noel Burrows 21, D MacKinlay 6.

THE Potteries and District Alliance county team won their opening fixture of the season, beating Derbyshire by 12 points.

The home leg at Birches Head Hotel proved decisive as the home team managed a 46-point winning aggregate.

The two winners in the away leg at Fairfield Cons were Richard Bridgwood and Danny Higginson, which kept their deficit down to 34.

THE £1,000 James Birks Memorial Open 64 at Florence Private is now accepting entries at £10 per player. Qualifying rounds are being held on July 12, 19, 26 and August 2, starting at 6.30pm. Finals day is August 16, starting at 3pm. For more information, call John Large on (01782) 319440 after 8pm.

THE Ted Astley Memorial tournament continues at Birches Head Hotel tonight at 6pm.

Draw: Darren Clutton v Lee Dale, Todd Ridge v Matt Stevenson, Lee Brown v Richard Burgess, John Price v Jeff Brown.

Last week's results: Mick Simpson 31, Tony Porter 24; Martin Simcock 31, Paul Phillips 29; Tony Shaw 31, Mark Melvin 27; Chris Hollinshead 31, Phil Djuranovic 19; Mick Thompson 31, Mick Brindley 27; Martin Hallam 31, Joe Melvin 25; John Mountford 31, Martin Goodall 26; Paul Charlesworth 31, Roy Price 19.

THE Knypersley Junior Open tournament takes place next Sunday at 11am. Entries should be submitted to Carole Hornsby, who can be contacted at (01782) 515107).

THE Milton Hayes Open 64 still has vacancies for qualifiers on Saturday, July 4, and Sunday, July 5. Competition starts at 2pm and entry is £10. Contact Malcolm Jones on (01782) 862930 for more details.

NORTH Staffs Parks Association fixtures for tomorrow see the veterans take on South Yorkshire at Fegg Hayes while the juniors play South Yorkshire at Wolstanton WMC (both matches starting at 2pm).

THE North Staffs Individual Merit at Oakhill was won by Kerry Morris of Birches Head Hotel. He beat Anthony Lloyd of Burslem Suburban in the final 21-14.