FURNESS produced an excellent victory over Ormskirk to keep up the pressure at the top of the Dennis Mowers-sponsored Federation of Crown Green Bowls Division Three.

With Furness winning the overall match 18-14 and the aggregate 424-401 to collect an extra four points, they lie in second place in the table, 15 points behind leaders Colne Valley.

The home leg, played on Lindal Bowling Green, was played in bright sunshine on a green more sluggish than normal after a week of rain.

Barry Lowden led 11-3, opponent Ian Grady fought back to narrow the gap to 13-14, before Lowden sealed victory at 21-14. Graham Rigg, always superb on Lindal, led 9-2, then found his lead cut to 9-7 before storming away to win 21-11.

An out-of-sorts home captain Nigel Burns trailed 9-1, then found some form to level at 18-18, and was then lying game at 20 across, when Tim Dickinson struck sending the jack into the gutter. The Ormskirk man managed to find the winning wood in a tense last end.

Tony Whitehouse put in a confident performance, recording seven twos in his 21-6 win. In a nip and tuck game with opposing captain Jimmy Fagan, young Zach Walker put up an exceptional performance despite losing 21-18.

Chris Johnson has really settled into the Furness team in his debut season, recording a fine 21-12 win in a game he was always in control of.

Another youngster, Tom Harris, also had an impressive 21-9 win against Andy Howie. Dan Monks looked to be heading for victory when leading 17-12, but unfortunately could not add to his score. Danny Rogers was the game’s star man, recording an amazing ten twos in his sixteen-end 21-6 win. Chris Whitehouse was 12-4 and 18-10 down, then levelled at 19 across before losing 21-19.

After a slow start Brian Beard gradually took control to win 21-16. Home player Paul Thompson led 12-4 and 19-5 before finally winning to 10.

The Furness away team played on a very heavy Aughton Institute green that had not been cut for the match and was especially hard going for the opening quartet of players before the green began to dry out a little.

Richard Allen put the Cumbrians’ first point on the board winning 21-12. Old timer Jeff Hinde added another with a fine 21-18 win

Ian Pullin had a great 21-18 win over home bowler Mike Wooton, and 19-year-old Daniel Edmonds put on another superstar performance to beat Aughton Institute bowler Neil Rigden 21-17. This resulted in Furness winning 8-4 on games in Furness, and an aggregate advantage of 74 chalks. The Furness away team had produced another excellent performance despite losing 8-4 on games and the aggregate by 51 chalks, giving Ormskirk a 10-4 win.

The next Furness match takes place on Sunday June 26, against Mid-Cheshire.

Home leg results at Lindal: Barry Lowden 21 Ian Grady 14 Graham Rigg 21 Barry Davis 11 Nigel Burns 20 Tim Dickinson 21 Tony Whitehouse 21 Dave Hughes 6 Zach Walker 18 Jimmy Fagan 21 Chris Johnson 21 Peter Stringfellow 12 Tom Harris 21 Andy Howie 9 Daniel Monks 17 John Mills 21 Danny Rogers 21 Stuart Eaton 6 Chris Whitehouse 19 Darren Evans 21 Brian Beard 21 John Coupe 16 Paul Thompson 21 John Clark 10.

Away leg results at Aughton Institute: Martin Barrow 6 Danny Finch 21 Gareth Jones 14 Don Morris 21 David Jones 14 Brian Thompson 21 Richard Allen 21 Paul Reardon 12 Jeff Hinde 21 Billy Magee 18 Angela Athersmith 18 Iain Bibby 21 Ian Pullin 21 Mike Wooton 18 Paul Bennett 4 Tim Hodge 21 Steve Fullard 13 Frank Southward 21 Gary Mills 15 Dave Feeney 21 Roger Barrow 14 Carl Gregson 21 Daniel Edmonds 21 Neil Rigden 17.