RUNCORN, captained by Alan Rowland, were convincing winners of the Triangular golf competition involving Helsby and Widnes which concluded at Highfield Road on Sunday.

Rowland and his partner Bernard Edwards could afford a final hole defeat by Helsby's John Buchanan and Ian Smith in their fourball encounter yet still enjoy a six-point winning margin over Helsby in the popular team even played over three legs during the season.

Widnes, whose captain Arthur Jennion and his partner Bill Johnson enjoyed a 4 & 3 consolation victory over Helsby captain Bill Cartwright and their President Dennis Dowsett brought up the rear.

They were always playing catch up after a disastrous opening leg at Helsby in April.

Runcorn, taking a helathy lead of 16 to 11.5 over Helsby into the final leg, extended their winning margin by taking seven of their 12 matches on Sunday and halving the other.

Helsby took six out of 12 points to stay ahead of Widnes who managed only 4.5 on their home course.

Also staged at Widnes over the weekend was the Mainland Trophy, an important sponsored event which saw John Penney emerge as a runaway winner with a superb nett score of 61, eight under par, off his handicap of 16.

That gave him three shots to spare over Eddie Hemmings (87-23=64) with Steve Todd taking third prize after a 77-12=65.

The lowest gross award went to five-handicapper Brian Holmes for a 74.

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