Club News
The Finals Day of the 2023 Crosland Moor Open '64 is this Friday and Mark Atkinson has produced an excellent preview of the event along with pen pictures of the eight finalists which I am delighted to reproduce here along with the betting odds and the list of previous winners of the competition.
The draw is:
Simon Coupe v Harry Lumb Neil Bithell v Graham Hickey
Gareth Coates v Josh Mordue
Graeme Wilson v Liam Griffin
THE FINAL – FRIDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER - PLAYER PREVIEW SIMON COUPE (PRESTON) 11/8 21-20 Craig Hopwood (Castleford) 21-17 Tom Marsland (Penistone) 21-13 Kieran Smith (Crossgates) Simon is a previous winner at the Moor, and the reigning All-England champion will be fancying making it a double as the standout bookies favourite takes on local favourite Harry Lumb. Simon was made to work in qualifying, coming through the tightest of games in his opening match, before going through the gears to qualify. HARRY LUMB (KIRKHEATON) 14/1 21-15 Aaron Harrison (Lancashire) 21-8 Ryan Lysons (Doncaster) 21-17 Ian Newby (Lower Hopton) Harry is the rank outsider on the book but could still attract the punters having qualified for numerous final days this year across the district including a fantastic run in the Hill Crest Classic. The toughest of openers in Simon Coupe but will be confident that if he can repeat his season’s form, he’ll go close. NEIL BITHELL (LANCASHIRE) 10/1 21-9 John Hanson (Preston) 21-12 Barry Holland (Penistone) 21-20 Chris Mordue (Pudsey) First time visitor Neil found the Moor to his liking as he came through a tough card to qualify, finding a chin dropper at all-but across to beat Chris Mordue after previously been in control. The Panel man will fancy the task ahead, but will be giving away green knowledge in his opener as he takes on Graham Hickey. GRAHAM HICKEY (LOWER HOPTON) 10/1 21-20 Ryan Clark (South Yorkshire) 21-11 Steven Gilroy (Crossgates) 21-15 Paul Ingleby (Lower Hopton) A tough run to qualify saw Graham play great bowls, in particular a fine 14 break against Steven Gilroy to show he’s still got it to mix it with the best. Neil Bithell in the quarter finals presents another stiff test, but Graham has the green knowledge and experience to go far. GARETH COATES (HALIFAX) 5/1 21-13 Andy Webb (Wakefield) 21-11 Neil Slattery (Almondbury) 21-10 Craig Gant (Thongsbridge) Gareth has previously not taken a liking to the Moor, struggling in his visits in the Mirfield League but you wouldn’t have known it on his qualifying form as he showed his undoubted quality to qualify at a canter, ramming them on relentlessly on the top edge. A game worthy of the final in his opener, taking on Josh Mordue with the bookie unable to split them. JOSH MORDUE (PUDSEY) 5/1 21-16 Mark Hughes (Crossgates) 21-19 Jack Hill (Penistone) 21-19 Jack Dyson (Thongsbridge) Josh will be high on Yorkshire Cup success after Pudsey’s epic win and looking to back that up with individual honours here at the Moor. A super tough card to qualify in hindsight, Josh used all of his class to come through tight games against top opposition. He’ll need more of the same here as he takes on county colleague Gareth Coates. GRAEME WILSON (LOWER HOPTON) 4/1 21-14 Jack Bowes (Littlemoor) 21-15 Kris Lunn (Waterloo) 21-8 Ben Halliday (Halifax) 4/1 on GI to win a final 8? Now there's something you don't see very often but it reflects what a tough half of the draw this is. Even so, I can imagine the punters will come for GI at that price! Graeme has won the competition before and been a regular in the final days, playing the green to an unbelievable standard. Tough opener in previous teammate Liam Griffin, both playing a similar game. LIAM GRIFFIN (CROSSGATES) 7/1 21-10 Paul Bailey (South Yorkshire) 21-10 Robert Hitchen (Lower Hopton) 21-12 Ashley Tattersley (Lower Hopton) Liam is back at the top of his game, showing his undoubted quality as he heads the Mirfield League averages going into the final game tonight. Beat a host of quality players with some to spare to qualify, so will be confident of a deep run here.
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