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Bowls: Collision course

4/11/2005

LLOYDS and Budenbergs are on early collision course in the Boddingtons Manchester Premier League next season.

The Chorlton side ended Budenbergs' five-year domination of the country's top league earlier this year, and will receive the trophy at Sale Excelsior on December 2.

But the current and deposed champions both know that they will have a point to prove when they clash in Altrincham on the second week of the 2006 season.

Lloyds skipper Mike Geraghty said: "You always start with great expectations, but it's true to say that we surprised ourselves by what we achieved.

"We have had five winners at Budenbergs for the past two years, and any sort of a result like that again would set the tone for the rest of the season."

Budenbergs skipper Andy Cairns naturally sees it differently, saying: "Tell the Lloyds to keep the trophy polished - we'll be having it back.

"It's probably a good thing that we're playing them so early, and it will set us up if we can get a good result."

Each week features an open date for the first time, with Longwood taking the league strength up to 13. The Huddersfield side sit out the first week, but then have a stiff debut at South Manchester Royal British Legion.

Fixtures - April 5: Nursery v British Plate, Tottington v Budenbergs, Lloyds v Garswood Hall, Sale v Tonge, Richmond v St Josephs, Tetley Walker v South Mcr RBL. Open date: Longwood. April 12: British Plate v Tottington, Budenbergs v Lloyds, Garswood Hall v Sale, Tonge v Richmond, St Josephs v Tetley Walker, South Mcr RBL v Longwood. Open date: Nursery. April 19: Lloyds v British Plate, Tottington v Nursery, Sale v Bubenbergs, Richmond v Garswood Hall, Tetley Walker v Tonge, Longwood v St Joseph's. Open date: South Mcr RBL. April 26: British Plate v Sale, Nursery v Lloyds, Budenbergs v Richmond, Garswood Hall v Tetley Walker, Tonge v Longwood, St Joseph's v South Mcr RBL. Open date: Tottington.