CLAYTON have won the Henry Taylor Cup after defeating Sowerby Bridge Hillcrest 235-187 in the final at Kirkheaton Cricket & Bowling Club.

The Bradford club started as favourites but it was Hillcrest who made the better start, with Michael Murphy and Phil Holroyd quickly into their stride as they led 13-3 and 14-3 against Steve Wilkinson and Phil Lister respectively.

Phil Dowgill was always in control of his game, eventually taking it 21-10 just as Wilkinson and Lister started their comeback to finish on 17 and 19, which helped Clayton to a four-point lead after the first four jacks.

It was the middle games that secured the title for Clayton as they carded all four winners, extending their aggregate lead to 38 chalks, with a man-of-the-match performance from Andy Fowler, whose 21-10 was the pick of the performances.

Clayton were not in the mood for letting their advantage slip as they carded another three winners, with Chris Wilson matching Fowler's score as they took the title for the first time.

Scores (Hillcrest names first): Scott Haynes 21, Darren Clare 20; Martin Murphy 21, Steve Wilkinson 17; Phil Holroyd 21, Phil Lister 19, John Halliday 10, Phil Dowgill 21; Mark Barnett 15, Graham Hickey 21; David Warburton 12, Andrew Tate 21; Kevin Mullin 13, David Scott 21; Shawn Frewin 10, Andy Fowler 21; Mark Senior 10, Chris Wilson 21; Michael Holmes 15, Paul Gill 21; Gary Murphy 21, Paul Kaye 11; Gareth Swain 18, Robert Holmes 21. Sowerby Bridge Hillcrest 187, Clayton 235.

* Tommy Johnstone (Poynton) won the 2015 Spen Masters, sponsored by P&I Hopkins Butchers of Birkenshaw, after defeating Andrew Cairns (Rossendale) 21-7 in the final.

Johnstone rolled back the years with an evening of superb bowling.

First up for him was John Kennish (Isle of Man), who he beat 21-16 to set up a quarter-final with Yorkshire legend Robert Hitchen (Halifax).

Johnstone was always in control of this match as Hitchen never got going and won 21-8.

Mike Leach (Blackpool) was next up and he had been in terrific form with wins over Graeme Wilson (Audenshaw) 21-11 and Liam Griffin (Pudsey) 21-16.

Leach was always playing catch-up and was left on 16 as Johnstone progressed to the final and a match against Cairns. But this was one-sided as Johnstone carded an impressive victory.

Last 16: John Kennish (Isle of Man) 16, Tommy Johnston (Poynton) 21; Robert Hitchen (Halifax) 21, Terry Glover (Liverpool) 16; Liam Griffin (Pudsey) 21, Gareth Coates (Akroydon Victoria) 20; Graeme Wilson (Audenshaw) 11, Mike Leach (Blackpool) 21; Paul Dudley (Radcliffe) 17, Bill Burlinson (Warrington) 21; Chris Kelly (Sheffield) 21, Richard Stockdale (Eccleshill) 18; Mark Hughes (Crossgates) 21, Robbie Fitzpatrick (Wirral) 20; Stuart King (Asa Briggs) 6, Andrew Cairns (Rossendale) 21. Quarter-finals: Johnstone 21, Hitchen 8; Griffin 16, Leach 21; Burlinson 12, Kelly 21; Hughes 16, Cairns 21. Semi-finals: Johnstone 21, Leach 16; Kelly 16, Cairns 21. Final: Johnstone 21, Cairns 7.