ASHLEY Southwell (Asa Briggs) had to play a wonder bowl when laying game against to win the Bradford Merit, sponsored by Ken Green's family.

Southwell defeated Andrew Tate (Brighouse Sports) 21-19 in the final, but Southwell was 20-19 when he landed that decisive blow to win his first Bradford title.

However, he was the third Asa Briggs bowler to win the Bradford Merit, following Glen McCafferty in 2007 and Stuart King (2009, 2011).

Almost 40 bowlers took part in Bradford’s prestigious competition, but entries were not helped by a clash with an Aire Wharfe competition.

Bradford Merit scores – Quarter-finals: Andy Wood (Spen Victoria) 18 Andy Hodgson (Pudsey) 21, John Spinks (Pudsey) 11 Ashley Southwell (Asa Briggs) 21, Scott Bloodworth (Ladyhill) 21 Tony Throup (Spen Victoria) 18, Mark Regan (Brighouse Sports) 8 Andrew Tate (Brighouse Sports) 21. Semi-finals: Hodgson 12 Southwell 21, Bloodworth 19 Tate 21. Final: Southwell 21Tate 19.

Bradford play their second Federation match on Sunday against Warrington on Sunday, with the home match at Shipley Club and the away match at Bank Park.

Bradford, who opened with a 24-8 win over Bolton in April, will be looking to strengthen their position in Division Five.

Home match at Shipley Club: Stuart King (Asa Briggs) v Carl Armitage, Tracy Preston (Shipley Club) v Dave Twigg, Scott Bloodworth (Ladyhill) v Kyle Chapman, Tony Throup (Spen Victoria) v Matt Humphrys, Matthew Jacques (Shipley Club) v Dawn Hayes, Andy Denton (Asa Briggs) v Mark Budworth, Richard Bloodworth (Ladyhill) v Ron Jones, Andrew Fowler (Clayton) v Clare Frangleton, Jack Bowes (Littlemoor) v Simon Harrison, Chris Wilson (Clayton) v Chris Goodhand, Paul Gill (Clayton) v John Bradshaw, Ashley Southwell (Asa Briggs) v Rob Lawrenson. Reserves: Paul Kaye (Clayton), Andrew Heenan (Asa Briggs), Andy Southwell (Asa Briggs), Joe Bray (Clayton).

Away match at Bank Park (No 1), Warrington: Jordan Brown (Asa Briggs) v Damian Morrison, Bailey Rice (Hove Edge) v Alan Manual, Trevor Benn (Wyke) v Danny Woodward, Scott Sansom (Asa Briggs) v Dave Penketh, Lisa Rice (Pudsey) v Neil Dolan, Kevin Wood (Spen Victoria) v Sandra Gilfedder, Chris Ellis (Spen Victoria) v Mike Widocks, Mark Cunningham (Shipley Club) v Mark Maloney, Peter Ellis (Spen Victoria) v Steve Peters, Craig Fenton (Shipley Club) v Colin Dean, Andrew Wood (Spen Victoria) v Ian Porter, Neil Tordoff (Wyke) v Steve Gilfedder. Reserve: Graham Baggley (Shipley Club).