RUDHEATH Sports & Social Club host the final day of the £3,240 Rudheath Spring Open on Saturday, starting at 5.30pm.

The players making it to the final day from the final qualifying session on Saturday were Danny Nixon (Wharton Cons) and Greg Smith (Alvechurch).

Smith, who plays Lee Johnstone in his first game of the finals night, will line up as one of the favourites for the £800 first prize alongside defending champion Wayne Ditchfield (Tarlerton) who plays Nixon in the last 16.

In the field of 16, two former winners clash with Nicky Shaw (2010) coming up against Castle Sports’ Steven Morrey, who took the title in 2018.

Matt Gilmore (2015) is the other former winner of the competition and faces Jordan Riley in the first round.

Wharton Cons’ Jack Bushell starts his bid for the title against Frank Cullen, while Alan Manuel faces James Wilcox in another of the first-round games.

The remaining last 16 ties see Ant Lloyd come up against Wirral’s Dave McDermott, plus former Waterloo winner Tommy Johnstone against Simon Hargreaves.

Rudheath Spring Open is sponsored by Vale Royal Angling Centre.

Cheshire got their 2023 campaign off to a resounding start on Sunday with a 42-shot victory over Greater Manchester.

In the home leg at Comberbach, Cheshire made the perfect start with four winners out of the first four games with Tom Vickers, Andy Hamman. Danny Nixon and Glynn Cookson all getting in the winner’s enclosure.

A further two winners in the middle four saw Cheshire establish a 28-shot lead.

Debutant Steven Baskerville recorded the best victory of the match (21-6) and with it claimed the man-of-the-match award.

Jason Cornes and Neal Ocego also recorded wins in their games.

A narrow defeat by one shot in the away leg in Greater Manchester saw Cheshire take the game by 41 shots overall.

The Mid Cheshire Federation team play their second fixture of the season on Sunday.

Following their comprehensive defeat of Barnsley in the first game of the season, the team will be looking for another victory as they push for promotion from Division Three.

The team play their home leg at Alsager, while the away team travel to Preston. Games start at 2pm.