The latest bowls news and results courtesy of Stuart Greenhalgh…

ON Friday night, Wharton Cons kept their chances of winning the Mid-Cheshire Premier League alive with a maximum 210-101 victory against bottom club Alsager.

This makes Alsager’s chances of staying up almost impossible, with their last games being against very tough opposition.

Castle Sports A were away on the artificial greens at Helsby and came away winning their match 131-189. This means their lead over Wharton Cons reduced by 21 points and they now lead by 26.

Third-place Frodsham Red Lion A had a 173-160 loss away at Comberbach A, which allowed fourth-place Crewe PO to draw closer with their 194-150 win at home against Rudheath Bowls A.

With two games left in the season, we are left with two tussles at the top for first and second, and third and fourth.

At the bottom of the section, only Kingswood who are second to bottom have a chance to move out of relegation but with two very tough opponents ahead of them, it looks unlikely.

Section One sees Shavington A look certain winners after beating Tarporley A 191-154.

The fight for second place is close between Owley Wood B and Meadowbank. Owley Wood lost away 187-168, allowing Meadowbank to draw closer as they won at home 178-155.

The gap between the two is 209 points, but Meadowbank have a game in hand.

At the bottom of the league, Sandbach Park are relegated barring a miracle. The second relegation place is a fight between six clubs with only 38 points between them.

Crosstown, currently in sixth place, have played an extra game and could easily be in a relegation place at seasons’ end.

Into Section Two and with Victoria getting a maximum away from home by beating Moulton RBL A 210-126 and with Barnton CC A also getting a maximum score, beating Kelsall 210-121, these two teams look certain to win promotion with Victoria first and Barnton second.

With Wharton Rec A 382 points adrift at the bottom, it really is just a question of who will join them in Section Three next year.

As it stands with Helsby B in the mix and with them playing an extra game, they look most likely to join Wharton Rec.

Middlewich RBL B and Winnington are first and second respectively in Section Three but both have played an extra game.

Shavington are only 20 points behind second place so should easily overtake Winnington for second and a good score will take them close to first.

At the bottom, it looks like a fight between Delamere A and Hartford A to see who will be relegated with Rudheath Bowls C.

Comberbach C, Tarporley and Owley Wood D are all in the mix for promotion from Section Four.

Comberbach, who have a 59-point lead over Tarporley, are favourites for the top spot but if results go the right way, any of the three could end up promoted.

Elsewhere, the quarter finals of the Whitby Cup team pairs handicapped comptetion were played on Tuesday.

Wharton Cons eased past Frodsham Red Lion 118-82 while Section One’s Owley Wood B took on Section Two leaders Victoria, with the Section Two team winning 116-95.

Comberbach A won their quarter final by the smallest of margins against LK Graylams, edging them out 121-119.

The last semi-final spot was won by Winnington A, beating Rudheath B 152-133.

The semi finals – to be played on Tuesday, September 24 – are Wharton Cons A v Victoria at Sandbach Park and Comberbach A v Winnington A at Meadowbank.