THE draw for the Manchester and District Scratch Match Play championship has been made with another good entry of professionals and top amateurs looking to make finals day at Ashton-on-Mersey in April.

Stamford professional Mark Smith will be defending the trophy he won last year and begins with a trip to Ringway to play top amateur Mike Wallwork.

At the other end of the draw is another Tameside star in Ashton-under-Lyne assistant pro Mikey Boyle who won the assistant professional’s title in 2012.

He faces a difficult first round tie visiting current Alliance Order of Merit leader Graham Cox of Davenport.

There is plenty of local interest in the competition with recent Alliance Captain Kris Andrews (Ashton-on-Mersey) (pictured) hoping to make it through to his home turf and he begins his campaign with a local derby at Davyhulme Park against their young assistant pro Josh Garnett.

Former Davyhulme Park junior Mike Lane, now the assistant pro at Dunham Forest has a home tie against former match play winner Tim Maxwell (Knutsford) while Ashton-on-Mersey amateur Paul Crisp visits the vastly experienced Tony Cuppello at Pike Fold.

The full draw is: M Wallwork (Ringway) v M Smith (Stamford); G Bradley (Bramhall) v J Flint (Crompton and Royton); A Earlam (Stamford) v J Tipper (Denton); P Barber (Didsbury) v A Millar (Ellesmere); L Burgess (Bramall Park) v G Norcott (Stockport); G Hamerton (Pike Fold) v M Longshaw (Hindley Hall); N Holmes (Tytherington) v C Daggitt (Bramall Park); S Parry (Hart Common); D McAndrew (Ellesmere) v P Grannell (Vale Royal Abbey); A Cuppello (Pike Fold) v P Crisp (Ashton-on-Mersey); M Lane (Dunham Forest) v T Maxwell (Knutsford); J Garnett (Davyhulme Park) v K Andrews (Ashton-on-Mersey); D Green (Dukinfield) v S McCarthy (Lymm); S Jackson (Disley) v A Hall (Cheadle); B Thompson (Hazel Grove) v C Doherty (Bury); G Cox (Davenport) v M Boyle (Ashton-under-Lyne).

Ashton-on-Mersey’s men played a singles Stableford and Alan Booth led in after winning a cpo on 35 points with Keith Hutton and Paul Robinson and Mike Cousen were next in with 33.

William Wroe Vets were in singles Stableford mode and Jack Whalley was in hot form with 37 points, one more than Don Tarpey.

In a second singles Stableford Brian Allen blitzed his way to 41 points, two more than soccer legend Roy Tobin.

Sale’s men played a Four Man Team Stableford and leading in with 80 points were P Moores, D Falsey, S Rourke and D Ryder, one more than M Fox, J Parkinson, B Cooper and D Plant.