THE fact that Chris Mordue had to play a preliminary round made no difference to him in week 16 of the Spen Winter Sweep – the final week of qualifying.

The Pudsey bowler won six rounds to not only make it back-to-back Spen victories but it was also his fifth successive final, making him a hot favourite for Saturday's decider.

Mordue swept through the first three rounds, dropping only 24 chalks, but was pushed in the quarter-finals and semi-finals by points winner Mark Regan (Brighouse Sports) and Mally Fowler (Ladyhill) before overcoming them 21-20 and 21-17 respectively.

In the final, Scott Tattersley (Spen Victoria), whose striking was a feature of his game,was beaten 21-11.

Tattersley had prevented an all-Mordue final by defeating Chris' son Josh 21-17 in the other semi-final.

The draw will be made today for Saturday, with the Geoff Brough Trophy at stake for the top 32 and the Consolation Cup for places 17 to 33, with dress codes applying to all entrants.

Week 16 – Preliminary round: Neil Slattery 21 Garry Walker 20, Frank Griffin 8 Mark Regan 21, Graham Law 20 Danny Sillitoe 21, Karen Hill 21 Warren Wilson 12, Kez Smith 21 Adam Mellor 5, Gaz Lally 18 Danny Teale 21, Paul Burke 13 Chris Ellis 21, Nigel Marshall 8 Chris Mordue 21. First round: Billy Thornton 21 Alan Forrest 4, Paul Holt 14 Andy Gallagher 21, Duncan Reeves 21 Gordon Bradford 18, Chris Bly 19 Scott Tattersley 21, Chris Firth 21 Andy Hodgson 20, Liam Griffin 21 Marc Armitage 20, Ben Gloag 21 Ash Tattersley 13, Josh Mordue 21 Michael Sweeney 15, Dave Gwilliam 21 Brian Lee 8, Andy Thornton 15 Colin Scorah 21, Mally Fowler 21 Les Oddy 7, Joe Cranston 21 Richard Brook 7, Slattery 16 Regan 21, Sillitoe 21 Hill 11, Smith 11 Teale 21, Ellis 4 C Mordue 21. Second round: Thornton 20 A Gallagher 21, Reeves 11 S Tattersley 21, Firth 13 Griffin 21, Gloag 15 J Mordue 21, Gwilliam 21 Scorah 12, Fowler 21 Cranston 18, Regan 21 Sillitoe 16, Teale 12 C Mordue 21. Quarter-finals: A Gallagher 13 S Tattersley 21, Griffin 10 J Mordue 21, Gwilliam 5 Fowler 21, Regan 20 C Mordue 21. Semi-finals: S Tattersley 21 J Mordue 17, Fowler 17 C Mordue 21. Final: S Tattersley 11 C Mordue 21.

Meanwhile, the Brighouse Winter Sweep finals have been delayed until the end of March, giving the green time to recover from urgent winter works.

* FORMER Bradford Moor and Queensbury bowler Bill Smalley has died after a long illness.

His funeral is at Nab Wood Crematorium on Wednesday, February 28 (11.30am), with a celebration of his life afterwards at the Hop (formerly the Tramshed) in Saltaire.

* AS THINGS stand, Bradford will only be able to field one team in the Yorkshire Crown Green Bowling Association's Junior Inter-District League this year as only nine juniors are willing to play.

However, it is hoped that manager Mark Dobson can find more players so they may be able to field two teams as per normal.

* JOHN Preston has resigned as fixture secretary, press officer and website manager and registrar for the Bradford Crown Green Bowls Association.

Preston became association treasurer in 1990 aged 19, keeping the role for around eight years.

* SKIPTON-Craven Bowling Club are holding a one-day competition on Sunday, March 18 (10am).

The entry fee is £10 and prize money will be £320, subject to 32 entries. The winner should receive £100, the runner-up £60, losing semi-finalists £40 and losing quarter-finalists £20.

No home bowlers are allowed and entries should go to Mick Demain (07745-346296, gdemain@btopenworld.com) or Rob Ellis (07463-489044).

* HOVE Edge Bowling Club are holding an Easter Monday Competition on April 2 (10am). The entry fee is £5 and all will be paid out in prize money.

No home bowlers will be allowed and players who enter together will be kept apart in the draw. There is also a supplementary cup for first-round losers.

Entries should be made to Steve Rothwell on 07757-074577.

* SHIPLEY'S ladies' team, who play in Division Two of the Leeds Ladies League, are looking for new members.

Matches are on Thursday evenings, starting on April 19, and players of all experience are welcome.

Anyone interested should contact 07495-553708 or rtelford2011@gmail.com.