TIMPERLEY EDGE CLOSER TO FIRST PREMIER DIVISION CROWN

By Neil Goulding 

ENGLAND international Andy Brickell led the charge as title-chasers Timperley took a step closing claiming their first Premier Division crown at the weekend.

The on-song attacker top-scored with five goals as the leaders thumped basement boys Brooklands Hulmeians 16-4 to maintain their two point lead at the top of the Men's North of England League.

Rick Cain scored four, Max Sandy bagged a hat-trick, Steve Parkinson scored a brace and skipper Rob Macklin was also on target as the home side registered their 13th win of the season.

"It was a good win for us, we've always tend to have close games against Brooklands, so it was nice to win so comfortably," praised Macklin, whose side led throughout.

"We've got three games left, so if we win at least two of them then we should win the league. It's going to be a big test for us over the next few weeks."

Stockport stay second after an 11-6 win at home to former league winners Cheadle, but the defending champions have played one game more.

Midfielder Paul Fullerton and attacker Steve Howe scored hat-tricks as the Beech Road outfit led 5-1 at half-time and then eased 9-3 clear after three quarters.

The home side lost the last quarter 3-2, but victory was always assured thanks to further goals from Tom Gosnay, Richard Wilson, Owen Jones, Adrian Wright and Tom Williamson, the defender's first-ever senior goal.

"Our defence played really well," reflected a Stockport spokesperson. "It's always a good game against Cheadle, but if we hadn't have had our blip then we might still be favourites to win the league."

Wilmslow stay in title-contention in third place after their 15-10 win away to Mellor. With games in hand the Cheshire club can still win the league, but Timperley are now clear favourites with just three games to go.

Even if they don't win honours, Wilmslow look set for their highest-ever finish, fifth place their previous best.

The consistently-impressive Chris Mountney top-scored with five goals for Wilmslow as they raced into a 8-2 half-time lead having won the opening quarter 4-1.

England midfielder Mark Reynolds scored a hat-trick, with John Mountney, Ashley Tarran-Jones and Tommy Foster on target with doubles.

Robert Messenger also found the back of the net as the visitors lost the third quarter 4-3, but shared the last quarter 4-4 to make sure of welcome full points.

Mark Greaney scored five goals for Mellor and Ollie Hall completed a hat-trick, while Andy Etherington and Freddie Evans added single strikes.

Promoted Rochdale helped their relegation-cause with a 12-10 win over fellow promoted side Poynton at Bridgefold Road, while Manchester Waconians, last season's Senior Flags winners, edged Heaton Mersey 11-10.

Adam Zussman and Danny Godfrey both scored hat-tricks for Mersey who led 7-6 at half-time and 10-7 going into the deciding quarter.

But three goals each from Steve Shanahan, David Seneviratne and Mike Bocklet helped Wacs whitewash their hosts 4-0 in the final quarter for a memorable one-goal victory.

Former winners Timperley and Heaton Mersey will locks horns in this year's Women's North of England Premier League final.

Timperley eased to an impressive 21-3 win at home to Stockport in their semi-final play-off duel, while Mersey just did enough to edged a determined Mellor 12-11 in this season's other semi-finals.

Leeds beat Wirral 8-6 in the Plate semi-finals, with Timperley A defeated Liverpool 10-5 to make sure of their place in this year's showcase final to be play this weekend.

Meanwhile, Poynton were crowned the new Norman Barber Under-19 Knockout Cup champions following their 6-2 victory over Heaton Mersey at Timperley Lacrosse Club on Sunday night.

In this year's Plate final Timperley squandered a 6-0 lead as they were upset 8-7 by Manchester Waconians, the match decided by a dramatic golden-goal winner.

MEN, North of England League - Premier Division: Mellor 10 Wilmslow 15, Timperley 16 Brooklands Hulmeians 4, Stockport 11 Cheadle 6, Heaton Mersey 10 Manchester Waconians 11, Rochdale 12 Poynton 10.

Division Two: Ashton-under-Lyne 11 Oldham 6, Boardman and Eccles 13 Nottingham 4, Manchester Waconians A 9 Heaton Mersey A 6, Cheadle A 8 Stockport A 11, Sheffield Steelers 23 Stopfordians 2.

Division Three: Brooklands Hulmeians A 8 Rochdale A 6, Poynton A 10 Mellor A 8, Stockport B 2 Norbury 19, Sheffield University 1 Manchester Waconians B 0, Wilmslow A 9 Timperley A 9.

Division Four: Mellor B 5 Sheffield Steelers A 9, Cheadle Hulme 5 Cheadle B 8, Heaton Mersey B 19 Boardman and Eccles A 9, Oldham A 21 Poynton B 7, Timperley B 6 Brooklands Hulmeians Extra A 8.

Division Five: Stopfordians A 2 Hull 7, Rochdale B 9 Heaton Mersey Guild 10, Leeds 4 Liverpool 6, Poynton C 0 Ashton-under-Lyne A 1.

Under-19 Northern Norman Barber Knockout - final: Poynton 6 Heaton Mersey 2. Plate final: Manchester Waconians 8 Timperley 7 (after overtime, golden goal winner).

WOMEN, North of England Premier League - semi-final play-offs: Timperley 21 Stockport 3, Heaton Mersey 12 Mellor 11. Plate semi-finals: Leeds 8 Wirral 6, Timperley A 10 Liverpool 5.

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