DIDSBURY Golf Club were hosts for the latest Manchester Alliance meeting which saw the Bert Thompson Trophy as the main feature of the competition.

Thompson was a legend in the Manchester Alliance, being secretary for many years, and his club Didsbury agreed to host the competition each year in the memory of their former captain.

The trophy was won in convincing style by Ashton-on-Mersey assistant pro Ollie Smith and his club amateur Steve McDermott as they racked up 44 points to claim their second successive Alliance trophy, having won the Robert Wax Cup at Marple two weeks previously.

Next in the pro-am, with 42 points, were Styal duo Alistair Waddell and Charles Herbert, one more than Swinton Park’s Ben Chambers and Max Baxendale.

Waddell was the leading individual professional with 39 points from Ollie Smith (37) and Bury's Nick Holmes (36).

The top am-am pair were Ellesmere’s John Kilner and Tony O’Mara, with 41 points taking them three clear of Swinton Park’s Marcus Corfield and Dave Smith who won a card play-off from Alliance legend Denis Durnian and his Chorley colleague Keith Liddle.

Manchester Golf Club staged the third final of the Alliance’s Seniors Team Knockout providing a great course, which had recently staged the England Open Under-14 Boys' Championship.

The competition has grown since its inception in 2015 and there were 80 clubs taking part in this season’s competition, which featured five pairs per side in the matchplay format.

Two proud teams, making their first final appearance, represented Ashton-under-Lyne and Shaw Hill and making an early impact with a 6&5 win were Ashton’s Mo Akram and Alan Clegg against Graham Whittle and Rupert Davies.

Following this example were John Jenkinson and Tony Millar, winning by 2&1 against Roger Bentley and Steve Parke and Martin Easthorpe and Norman Seabright won by 3&2 against Terry Dewhurst and Dave Caunce to secure the trophy for Ashton.

Shaw Hill’s John Holt and Alan Smith gained a consolation point with a 2&1 win against Roger Lomas and Jeff Hindle and the last match out was a draw between John Dawber and Peter Haq (Ashton) and Tony Aspinall and Nigel Deane (Shaw Hill).