AFTER Wharton Cons took the Norman Cup Final last Saturday, this weekend was Castle Sports’ chance to add the Brunner Cup to the Cheshire Inter League trophy.

Castle Sports played Houldsworth at the Coronation Club and ran out 227-191 winners to bring the trophy home. The full match results are as follows:

John Gurney 21-15 Jack Holland, Stuart Kellett 21-16 John Hignett, Adrian Faulkner 21-11 Neil Smith, Andy Hamman 21-13 Alan Manuel, Neal Ocego 9-21 Tommy Johnstone, Steve Morrey 14-21 Dave Bennett, Rob Winnington 21-18 James Jones, Kevin Duncalf 21-15 Carl Armitage, Steven P Baskerville 17-21 Lee Johnstone, Jason Cornes 19-21 Steve Wooding, Matty Hamman 21-7 Jack Hamilton, Paul Dooley 21-12 Larry Wells

A great win for Castle Sports, and the three biggest county team trophies are in Mid Cheshire – at least until 2025.

With only three matches left in the Mid-Cheshire League Premier Division, we are starting to see the winners and the teams who are going to be relegated.

Like many seasons, the top spot looks like only two teams have a chance of winning it – they are Castle Sports A and Wharton Cons A.

Friday night saw Castle playing a home tie against Comberbach A, and it was a good night for Castle as they won 203-118 with only one loser.

Bottom-placed Alsager had a great result at home, and they hit the kind of score they need in their last three games if they want to stay up, winning the match 197-178.

Helsby A will come away from Alsager pleased with their score as it helps them stay out of the relegation spots.

Kingswood BC, who are second from bottom, also posted a good score in beating Owley Wood A 195-165.

Back to the top of the league as third-place Frodsham Red Lion had a home match against second-place Wharton Cons – a chance for Frodsham on their tricky green to pull closer to Wharton.

However, this was not to be the case as Wharton came away winning the match 166-183.

Fourth-place Crewe PO closed the gap to third to 70 points with their 189-166 win away at Middlewich CBC.

Section One saw Shavington A almost guaranteeing top spot although they lost away at Comberbach B 191-178.

Meadowbank, Rudheath Bowls B and Castle Sports C all have a chance of taking second spot from Owley Wood B with good scores over the remainder of the season.

Section Two saw Victoria playing their game in hand on Thursday before then playing on Friday, winning both games.

They won 178-142 at Barnton BC B on Thursday before recording their third home maximum the following day, beating Lk Graylams 210-107.

Unsurprisingly, this places Victoria first with little to no chance of being caught. Barnton CC A are almost certain to have the second spot, with the nearest team being 46 points behind but having played an extra game.

Section Three leaders Middlewich RBL B had a surprising home defeat to Owley Wood C, with the team from Owley winning 167-177.

With Middlewich losing at home, it gave second place Shavington B the chance to close the gap and they won their home match 180-134 against Sandbach Park B.

It remains close at the top, with five teams still able to win promotion.

Section Four sees Comberbach C hold the top spot – a good 171-159 away win at Barnton CC D helped to keep them top with just three games to go.

Tarporley B keep the second place despite losing 188-169 at Winnington B while Owley Wood D are in third after a great away win at Comberbach D, beating them 197-121. Any team in the top six could force their way into the top two by seasons’ end.

Elsewhere, the quarter finals of the Whitby Cup will be played on Tuesday, September 17 – ties as follows:

Wharton Cons A v Frod Red Lion A at Castle S&SC 1, Owley Wood B v Victoria at Winsford Cons, Comberbach A v Lk Graylams at Davenham, Winnington A v Rudheath Bowls B at Owley Wood 2.

There are few stronger bonds in life than that of teammates in an unbeaten season, maybe that of a parent and a child holds stronger.

When Pam Plant – a stalwart of Knutsford bowls, Mid Cheshire bowls and Castle Sports – passed away early in the season having played just three games, it is a testament to Pam that of the three, she won two and only lost one to19.

The Ladies of Castle Sports lost not only a teammate and friend, but one member of the team lost her Mum.

What better way to honour the name of a bowler than to not only go on and win the league but to do it unbeaten.

It is never easy to go unbeaten and there were a couple of close matches – June 21 away at Church Inn, for example, where they went with a player short but just won 135-128.

In the end, they won the Knutsford Ladies First Division by over 250 points and maintained an unbeaten league season. I think Pam Plant would have felt proud to have played a part

Finally, Middlewich RBL start their open bowls competition on Saturday and Sunday – qualification is this weekend and next weekend at 5pm.