By Stephen Helliwell
Gordon Bradford, of Greetland, won the Halifax League Merit, sponsored by the host venue, at Rastrick Bowling Club on Sunday by the narrowest of margins, defeating Mytholmroyd’s Tony Bannister by 21-20 in the final.
Both finalists had shown excellent form in the earlier rounds and did not disappoint in the final. Initially, it seemed that Bradford would dominate. Bannister took singles from the first two ends but Bradford responded immediately with a break of nine to take a seven-point lead. Bannister reacted to narrow the gap to a single chalk at 8-9, then, after a single to
Bradford, pushed ahead with a six break to lead by14-10. Bannister was still ahead by 16-14 before Bradford ran to all-but with a break of five. Bannister was not yet finished and drew level with consecutive pairs, but Bradford held on at the finish to claim the claim the Wilkinson Sword Trophy for the first time.by 21-20.
Earlier, Bradford had started with a 21-8 first round result against James Akesson, followed by a 21-15 victory over Simon Robinson in the quarter-final before reaching the final with a 21-12 semi-final over Paul Gill.
Bannister’s road to the final began with a 21-9 win against Dale Holdsworth and, after trailing for much of the game, a 21-16 victory over John Hamer. A 21-5 semi-final win against Alan Bray took him into the final.
Quarter-final scores: A. O’Brien 15 A. Bray21; J. Hamer 16 T. Bannister 21; S. Robinson 15 G. Bradford 21.; R. Helliwell 12 P. Gill 21