TETLEY Walker A produced an excellent performance to defeat favourites and league title chasers St Oswalds A in Warrington and North Cheshire Bowls Association's Silcock Cup Final on Saturday.

The Long Lane boys, who won the competition for the first time in their history, had seven winners in their 209-192 success at Woolston Royal British Legion as they ended St Oswalds' hopes of a Challenge Cup and Silcock Cup double.

John Durrands was the man of the match after his classic 21-18 defeat of C Marshall, while spud man' Tony Smith's 21-3 victory against Billy Rowson was crucial and the best of the day.

St Oswalds big guns Tommy Johnstone, Carl Armitage and Kevin Wainwright were all missing from the previous week's Challenge Cup winning line-up due to appearing in a competition out of town but Tetley skipper Mark Tinning said the absences should not leave a hollow feeling to the success.

He said: "Who is to say they would have won with them in the side anyway? We've all played each other before and gained victories on each side and it all comes down to the performances on the day.

"The players that came in to replace them late on were no duck eggs but it did give the team a bit of a lift when we found out they weren't playing.

"I spent two days working out the game plan and it worked brilliantly. With having a 12 lead on the handicap, we expected them to start strongly so we wanted to hold them in the first four, then get a few in front in the middle and then hold or stretch the lead with the back four.

"All the lads clicked and played to their potential. When we do that we're a good match for anyone."

Tinning added: "With it being the first time we've won the Silcock Cup it was an extra special occasion.

"We celebrated in style back at the club with the committee putting a tab behind the bar and the tab was drunk dry.

"Later in the night they filled the cup up - it must hold about three gallons.

"There would have been a few headaches the next day. I didn't move off the settee on Sunday but it was worth it, though, because it was an extra special day. No-one expected us to win, even with St Oswalds putting in three late reserves."

Billy Burlinson, 21-5, and R Bate, 21-10, helped to keep the favourites in touch.

But Tetley Walker, who hold down fourth and sixth place in the Monday and Friday leagues respectively, won five of the last seven blocks to make sure they got their hands on the trophy.

Results: Tetley Walker A (12) 209 v St Oswalds A (0) 192: J Durrands 21 C Marshall 18, B Gleave 21 J Brown 15, S Fisher 20 B Lawton 21, S Clarke 10 R Bate 21, P Sauce 5 W Burlinson 21, J Dickenson 21 G Stone 14, T Smith 21 W Rowson 3, D Fisher 13 S Brown 21, S Martin 21 C Welsby 14, W Bailey 21 R Nevins 19, M Ashurst 14 J Stone 21, M Tinning 21 S Goodwin 16.