MIKE Yearsley celebrated winning the Roberts Bakery Cup for the first time on Friday after resisting a fightback from clubmate Jason Cornes in the final.

The Castle member took home the top £300 prize by beating the two-time former champion 21-15 at Crosstown in Knutsford.

He was a worthy victor, ending the latest challenge from Tom Vickers (Wharton Cons) in the last eight before seeing off best friend Andy Hamman (Castle) in the semi finals.

His success ends a wait for the 28-year-old to claim a first major singles title in the Mid-Cheshire Bowling Association.

I'm not the favourite, insists defending champion Illidge

He was a clear favourite after establishing a 14-7 lead, an advantage he maintained at 16-9 with a strike when his opponent expected to score.

However his celebrations were delayed when a break of five from Cornes, started with Yearsley on the verge of a victory at 20-10, suggested an unlikely comeback might be on.

The 52-year-old will have certainly thought so when his two woods lay closest to the jack at the next end, only for his teammate to thread his next bowl between the two of them to settle the outcome in style.

“I felt good, and had said to myself earlier in the day that this was my time,” revealed Yearsley afterwards.

“Jason is so good that I did begin to wonder when he started clawing his way back, but I was able to finish the job.”

He had beaten Vickers 21-17 in their opener, a contest during which he sent the bowl of the night long into a corner at 18-16 to prevent the Winsford star keeping hold of the block.

Yearsley had to be patient against Hamman, who had given him a lift to the venue, in his next head-to-head.

After trailing 11-2, he soon recovered to 13-across before taking the lead for the first time.

He did not let it slip, moving through 21-16.

Cornes edged a titanic struggle with old foe John Gurney (Comberbach) in his last-four encounter, squeezing through 21-19 after a scrappy encounter that ebbed one way and then the other.

He had been more comfortable in his quarter-final, seeing off Comberbach man Matt Thurlwell 21-14.

Defending champion Pete Illidge (Rudheath) fell at the first hurdle following a 21-16 defeat against Hamman.

Meanwhile Owley Wood’s Joe Tomkinson, the only contender to play for a team outside of the Mid-Cheshire Bowling Association’s top-flight, went down 21-13 against Gurney on his first appearance at a competition finals night.

Results

Mid-Cheshire Bowling Association

Roberts Bakery Cup

Finals night

Friday, June 16

At Crosstown Bowling Club

Quarter finals (handicap in brackets)

Mike Yearsley (Castle) (2) 21-17 Tom Vickers (Wharton Cons) (scr)

Pete Illidge (Rudheath) (scr 16-21 Andy Hamman (Castle) (2)

Joe Tomkinson (Owley Wood) (6) 13-21 John Gurney (Comberbach)

Matt Thurlwell (Comberbach) (2) 14-21 Jason Cornes (Castle)

Semi finals

Mike Yearsley (Castle) (2) 21-16 Andy Hamman (Castle) (2)

John Gurney (Comberbach) (2) 19-21 Jason Cornes (Castle) (2)

Final

Mike Yearsley (Castle) (2) 21-15 Jason Cornes (Castle) (2)