GORDON Butler proved too strong for his 26 rivals as he won the Arbuthnot Cup.

The Over Hulton bowler played to a consistently high standard throughout the competition which produced much high quality bowling.

The event included former cup winners Keith Mills and Mark Bradshaw.

The high standard of the competition was illustrated by the fact that both Mills and Bradshaw were knocked out in the second round.

Butler's consistency saw him reach the final where he met Ray Forest from the Astley Bridge Club.

The final produced a dour battle which Butler won 21-12. The losing semi-finalists were Andy Johnson and Anthony Wilkins.

The League Cup finals will be played at Over Hulton green on Sunday, September 12 at 1pm. The four finalists (two teams from each section) are to attend by 12.45pm.

A new system of play for the final for this league is to be introduced -- eight players, four from each section will start play and be replaced by the next pair from each section as the competition progresses, until all players have participated.

League Results: Section A: Tonge Moor D 146(6) Little Hulton A 144(4); Little Lever A (G Platt 21-3) 139(6) Astley Bridge D 123 (4); Plodder Lane B (M Gillies 21-2) 144(6) Tonge Moor D 126(4); Little Hulton A 128(2) Deane B 162 (9).

Section B: Deane C 138(3) Bradshaw 144(8); Over Hulton B (Paul Brookes 21-4) 164(8) Deane C 97(2); Astley Bridge C 147(8) Deane C (P Mather 21-3) 97(2); Astley Bridge E (R Craig 21-3) 130(2) Dunscar C 141(9); Bradshaw (A Wilkins 21-3) 156(6) Breightmet 112(4); Deane C (R Shepherd 21-4) 149(8) Plodder Lane C 118(2); Over Hulton B (G Butler 21-1) 167(9) Astley Bridge E 92(1); Smithills B 141(4) Dunscar C 142(7).

Section B Cup: Smithills B 137 Bradshaw 175.

Section A

P W D L IW Pts

Little Lever C... 10 10 0 0 68 92

Dunscar B... 12 9 0 3 56 78

Deane B... 12 9 0 3 55 76

Little Hulton A... 13 6 0 7 57 70

Tonge Moor A... 12 6 0 6 49 63

Little Lever B... 13 6 1 6 46 63

Plodder Lane B... 11 5 1 5 47 59

Astley Bridge A... 9 5 0 4 36 46

Tonge Moor D... 12 3 0 9 40 46

Astley Bridge D... 12 4 0 8 36 44

Tonge/Breightmet... 11 3 0 8 30 37

Little Lever A... 11 2 0 9 32 36

Section B

Over Hulton B... 11 10 0 1 58 82

Astley Bridge E... 13 6 0 7 54 68

Dunscar C... 11 7 0 4 50 66

Astley Bridge C... 9 7 0 2 45 61

Little Hulton B... 9 6 0 3 43 57

Smithills B... 11 4 0 7 43 53

Bradshaw... 9 5 0 4 38 51

Deane C... 12 4 0 8 38 46

Breightmet... 9 4 0 5 34 43

Plodder Lane C... 11 3 0 8 32 38

Church B... 11 2 0 9 29 33