THERE was more final despair for Lostock on Saturday as they lost the Brunner Cup final for the third time in seven years.

It was Sale Excelsior, picking up their fifth Cheshire title in nine years, who swept them away at the Railway Inn, Mobberley.

The Mid-Cheshire side only produced four winners on the day, losing on an aggregate of 236-193, leaving their bowlers rueing the missed chance of glory.

Mark Winnington said: "We knew they were slight favourites but we didn't think we would lose by that much. But we will be up for it again next year."

The individual results in the final were (Lostock players first):

Steve Nixon 9 Arthur Murray 21; Gerald Merry 16 John Quinn 21; Mark Winnington 21 Neil Jenkinson 20; Jason Cornes 18 Tommy Allison 21; Martin Griffiths 15 Ned Burrows 21; Steve Brittleton 21 Martin Bacon 19.

Danny Nixon 15 Robert Crawshaw 21; Paul Mackie 21 Jason Lockett 15; Jamie Mottershead 21 Ron Stanford 14; Graham Donnelly 17 Tommy Johnstone 21; Charlie Linegar 15 Alan Murray 21; Alan Chantler 4 Kevin Wolohan 21.

More Mid-Cheshire misery came in the semi-final of the British Parks Championship, where the seniors crashed out to South Yorkshire following a disastrous away leg.

In the home game at Comberbach, Mid-Cheshire had nine winners in a 268-239 win. Outstanding bowlers were Stan Frith (21-7), Mark Vernon (21-9), Colin Peters and Steve Hamman (both 21-14).

The away side could only manage two winners, Ivan Wilkinson (21-20) and Mark Cookson (21-8), in their 259-186 loss.

Mid-Cheshire's juniors, however, have made the Parks final again and will face South Yorkshire on September 17, venue to be decided.

At Moulton they scored 191-152, Rob Winnington leading the pack with a 21-3 demolition of his opponent.

Adam Cornes (21-10), Martin Kettle (21-12) and Steven Field (21-13) were other convincing winners. With Danny Hamlett playing in the All England Junior Merit, Thomas Vickers made his debut and Andrew Edwards came off the bench to win 21-16.

The away side had four winners but came up 186-184, helped by Simon Cookson's 21-11 and Paul Dykes (21-12).

Cookson was also celebrating on Monday night as he and father Glynn won the Barber (Honda) Pogsons Pairs, by beating Dykes and San Morrey in the final at Beech Tree, Barnton.

They became only the second father and son partnership to win the event, after Ken and Mark Winnington in 1987.

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