THE Mid Cheshire women's team got their 2023 campaign off to a winning start on Sunday when they recorded a resounding 36-shot victory over North Derbyshire, winning games at both the home and away venues, writes David O'Brien.

In the home leg at Kingswood, the team had seven winners from the 12 games, with single-score wins for Tasmin Birkett (21-7) and Viv Raddy (21-5) meant the home team won the game by 29 shots.

The team that travelled to New Mills Cricket & Bowling Club also won their game by seven shots with single-figure wins from Wendy Allen (21-9) Jackie Ollier (21-9) and Debbie Gittens (21-6) contributing to a fine team win.

Three Mid Cheshire teams have made it through to the quarter-final stages of Cheshire’s Brunner Cup.

Wharton Cons eased through with a 61-shot win over Crewe Post Office.

Last year's runners-up Castle Sports A progressed by defeating Packhorse BC and are joined in the last eight by the club/'s second team, with Castle Sports B winning a close encounter with Metro Sports 217-205.

With the quarter-finals not being staged until July 15, attention turns to the De Knoop Cup on Saturday, June 3 when Owley Wood take on Wharton Cons at Moulton RBL.

A top-class field assembles for the first qualifying night of the Castle Sports Classic on Saturday, starting at 6pm.

Four former winners are in the 16 players - Callum Wraight (2021), Lee Johnstone (2019), Ryan Clark (2018) and Matt Gilmore (2015).

With only two spaces available for progression to the final’s night on Saturday, July 22, some top-quality bowling is guaranteed.

This year’s competition is sponsored by Northwich Carpets and Laminates.

Comberbach B are through to this year’s final of Mid Cheshire’s Littler Cup.

On Sunday they defeated Premier League opponents Rudheath Sports A 263-247.

They must wait until Thursday evening before they know their opponents in the final as the Crewe PO and Middlewich RBL game has been re-arranged for then.