MIKE Fieldhouse and Alan Edwards took the spoils in Salthouse Bowling Club's Over-60s Open Pairs.

The dynamic duo defeated Billy Thompson and Allan Asbury 21-18 in the final to scoop the first prize of £120.

The competition – played under overcast skies – attracted an entry of 29 pairs, with Fieldhouse and Edwards deserved winners after bowling consistently well all day.

They started out by defeating John Taylor and Ken Howarth, 21-10, but trailed Kenny Judge and Eddie Gowron 17-10 and 19-15 before running out as 21-19 winners.

In the quarter-finals, they swept aside Dave Staunton and Brian Taylor 21-8, then John Gill and Nick Reilly fell 21-15 in the semi-finals.

Thompson and Asbury recovered from being 17-12 down to beat team-mates Joe Wardman and Chris Lloyd 21-19 in their opener, before defeating Ann France and Maureen Ratcliffe 21-10.

They then came from 17-13 behind to overcome Jeff Hinde and Derek Bell 21-20 in the quarter-finals. Last year's winners, Geoff Leatherland and Dave Slater, were the semi-final opponents they eased past 21-14.

In the final, there was little between the two pairs until Thompson and Asbury went from 12-10 adrift to lead 16-10.

The turning point came with Thompson and Asbury 18-16 up and lying three for game. Fieldhouse bowled a great wood to take the end and eventually go on to run out winners and take the title after 11 hours and 25 minutes of bowling.

RESULTS

Quarter-finals: D Staunton and B Taylor 8 M Fieldhouse and A Edwards 21, J Gill and N Reilly 21 M Askew and T McBratney 14, B Thompson and A Asbury 21 J Hinde and D Bell 20, D Bell and A Haines 11 G Leatherland and D Slater 21.

Semi-finals: Fieldhouse and Edwards 21 Gill and Reilly 15, Thompson and Asbury 21 Leatherland and Slater 14.

Final: Fieldhouse and Edwards 21 Thompson and Asbury 18.