RYLANDS A laid to rest their 1998 Challenge Cup nightmare by lifting the town's most prestigious team prize in comfortable fashion on Saturday.

The Gorsey Lane boys, shock losers to Touchers B by one point last year, won the Warrington and North Cheshire Bowls Association crown for the first time since 1996 by defeating Grange 232-186 in style.

Rylands, in a team stuffed with county stars, had nine winners compared to Grange's three after mastering the Alford Sports green.

The only consolation for Grange was that their best winner, John Brown, picked up the man of the match award for his 21-11 defeat of Tony Reardon.

Rylands skipper Dave Penketh led by example as his 21-7 win over replacement B. Lindley was the best return of the day.

The first four Rylands blocks set the pace with a 21-8 win by Kevin Wainwright, 21-19 by Carl Armitage, 21-15 by Jason Lockett and Penketh's 21-7 putting the eventual winners into an 84-49 ascendancy which proved too much for Grange to claw back.

Cards: Grange 186 v Rylands 232: H. Roberts 8 K. Wainwright 21, A. Bishop 19 C. Armitage 21, E. Green 15 J. Lockett 21, B. Lindley 7 D. Penketh 21, J. Brown 21 A. Reardon 11, P. Rowles 17 M. Noon 21, B. Lewis 19 D. Wright 21, C. Mayall 21 K. Armitage 17, J. Burley 21 D. Lawton 15, K. Foster 9 J. Durrands 21, P. Dean 17 G. Stone 21, B. Welsby 13 P. Davies 21.

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