'SANDAL CLASSIC' OPEN BOWLING COMPETITION

Graeme 'GI' Wilson (Lower Hopton) was crowned Sandal Classic 2009 champion last weekend  after an epic finale against local player, Rob Dunford (Morton House) - who won the Classic when it was last held in 2001 & 2002. Dunford looked like maintaining his impressive record in the competition as he raced into a 9-16 lead in the final but Wilson came from behind with a storming finish to claim the £800 winners prize with a 21-17 victory.

Former Wakefield-based player Nigel Cranston (Crossgates) - who had played two excellent  heats including a notable 21-6 victory over Shropshire star Callum Wraight - just came up short in the semi-finals against Wilson whilst John Hardwick (Dearne Sports) scored 13 against Dunford.

A bumper crowd was treated to a thoroughly entertaining evening of bowling which was  appropriately capped off by a tremendous final. Sandal Bowling Club would like to thank  Harpins Funeral Services, RHT Financial Services and The Castle Inn for kindly sponsoring the Classic as well as everybody who supported the event over the last 5 weekends.

Full scores from Finals night were as follows:

LAST 16

ALLAN THOMPSON 18 DAVE FISHER 21
JOHN SPINKS 12 GI WILSON 21
CALLUM WRAIGHT 21 ANDREW WALKER 11
NIGEL CRANSTON 21 MIKE SWEENEY 13
ROB DUNFORD W/O HARRY SEEHRA
SCOTT FISHER 19 JOHN HAMBLETON 21
JOHN DEWEY 13 DAVID ARMITAGE 21
JOHN HARDWICK 21 WAYNE WATSON 15

QUARTER-FINALS

DAVE FISHER 8 GI WILSON 21
CALLUM WRAIGHT 6 NIGEL CRANSTON 21
ROB DUNFORD 21 JOHN HAMBLETON 15
DAVID ARMITAGE 14 JOHN HARDWICK 21

SEMI-FINALS

GI WILSON 21 NIGEL CRANSTON 15
ROB DUNFORD 21 JOHN HARDWICK 13

FINAL

GI WILSON 21 ROB DUNFORD 17