PAUL Gill (Clayton) retained the Hospital Handicap, sponsored by Hove Edge Bowling Club, after defeating John Armitage (Littlemoor) 21-19 in the final.

This was the first time the competition had been played on a Saturday as a one-day event and entries were slightly up on last year, although 71 is still way below what it should be.

Having said that, there was some tremendous bowling – none more so than from Pam Lindley of Tyersal, who ousted 2014 champion Stuart King (Asa Briggs) in the last 16.

Lindley looked favourite to make it to the final when leading 17-7 against Gill, who somehow found the form to turn the match around and win 21-19.

Another impressive performance came from Myles Summers (Clayton), who defeated Ian Shaw (Pudsey) 21-19 in the last 16 and in-form Marc Armitage (Littlemoor) 21-18 in the quarter-finals before losing 21-16 to Armitage.

Gill duly booked his place in the end-of-season Victor Ludorum Invitational Merit (Champion of Champions) at Clayton on Saturday, October 7.

Quarter-finals: Pam Lindley (Tyersal) 21 Lynn Hobson (Hove Edge) 13, Paul Gill (Clayton) 21 Louis Barker (Hove Edge) 9, Myles Summers (Clayton) 21 Marc Armitage (Littlemoor) 18, John Armitage (Littlemoor) 21 Paul Wilczynski (Shipley Club) 20. Semi-finals: Lindley 19 Gill 21, Summers 16 Armitage 21. Final: Gill 21 Armitage 19.

* YORKSHIRE'S 451-411 defeat against North Midlands ended their British Crown Green County Championship campaign.

Despite carding nine winners in the home match at Brighouse Sports, Yorkshire only won the aggregate by 19 chalks.

Lower Hopton duo Graeme Wilson and Robert Hitchen were the pick of the home winners with 21-12 cards.

In the away match at a difficult Coundon green, Yorkshire managed four close winners, with Kieran Smith (Crossgates) the pick of them after a 21-16 effort.

Yet North Midlands took the home aggregate by 59 chalks, winning overall by an emphatic 40 chalks.

North Midlands will now take on Shropshire in the semi-finals on Sunday, August 6, while South Yorkshire face Potteries & District in the other tie. The final is scheduled for Sunday, September 3.

Home scores – Yorkshire 228 North Midlands 209 (Yorkshire names first): Graeme Wilson (Lower Hopton) 21 Dane Hopwood 12, Craig Newton (Lower Hopton) 17 Russell Prosser 21, John Spinks (Pudsey) 11 Darren Plenderleith 21, Josh Mordue (Pudsey) 21 Matt Horton 14, Gareth Coates (Akroydon Victoria) 21 Peter Varney 19, Jon Wilcox (Crossgates) 21 Paul Lamb 19, Chris Mordue (Pudsey) 11 Paul Ward 21, Ashley Tattersley (Lower Hopton) 21 Ben Percival 13, Simon Walder (Lower Hopton) 21 Matty Allen 20, Mark Hughes (Crossgates) 21 Jordie Baddeley 17, Robert Hitchen (Lower Hopton) 21 Andy Gibbs 12, Ashley Daykin (Netherton Con) 21 Shane Day 20.

Away scores – North Midlands 242 Yorkshire 183 (Yorkshire names first): Tom Hanson (Pudsey) 17 Jamie Dunn 21, Jack Dyson (Thongsbridge) 13 Richard Burdett 21, Scott Fisher (Denby Grange) 3 Stuart Perry 21, James Hanson (Pudsey) 8 Steve Pratt 21, Craig Gant (Thongsbridge) 15 Mark Burdett 21, Wayne Moseley (Lockwood Con) 21 Leigh Burdett 20, Stuart King (Lower Hopton) 21 Mark Blackmore 19, Josh Brown (Kirkheaton Con) 16 Willie Beal 21, Ian Booth (Lower Hopton) 21 Andy Parker (Haunchwood) 19, Kieran Smith (Crossgates) 21 Liam Bench 16, Kevin Burns (Ossett Flying Horse) 14 Stuart Nash 21, James Davison (Thongsbridge) 13 Noel Bates 21.