Memories
Following on from yesterday's full page coverage of the build-up to the 1998 Merit Final when the chances of veteran Harry Haigh winning the trophy were covered, here is the outcome of the competition with the only previous winner in the field, Paul Sigsworth, claiming the title for a second time.
The Examiner printed report is reproduced below as written by Peter Muff although the copy has become distorted by creases so I have taken the time to decipher it and it is below in its entirety.
Yorkshire County bowler Paul Sigsworthy yesterday won the Huddersfield Merit for the second time. And the headline from the Examiner-sponsored tournament netted a £250 cheque for this success.
The battle-hardened 34-year-old Kirkheaton Cricket & Bowling Club campaigner captured the honours in the latest Huddersfield success against Edwin Young (Almondbury Con) in the final on the Golcar Liberal Club green. It was a great contest with nip and tuck up to 12 across at which point Young looked likely to move into the lead with a wood just tucked safely away at the back of the block. But Sigsworth went in off Young's short wood and made two at the end.
And capitalising on his stroke of fortune, he ran up another three pairs on the trot (altogether he had eight pairs to Young's one) en route to his victory in the event which had prize money of £780.
Sigsworth went to Golcar on the back of four first-round finals day defeats since his previous win in 1989. And Peter Ramsden almost made it five. The Waterloo man recovered from 19-12 down to get within a point at 20-19 before Sigsworth stopped his run.
Harry Haigh (Marsh United) took the winner as close as 17-18 in the second round - but Sigsworth soaked up the pressure and moved forward.
First Round:
H Haigh (Marsh United) 21-19 C Squires (Longwood)
P Sigsworth (Kirkheaton C&BC) 21-19 P Ramsden (Waterloo)
D Watson (Crosland Moor Lib) 21-15 T Whitwam (Linthwaite C&BC)
R Crowther (Longwood) 21-18 R Spencer (Linthwaite Hall)
G Howe (Lockwood Con) 21-13 A Wike (Springwood)
G E Young (Almondbury Con) 21-18 M Fisher (Lockwood Con)
A Crowther (Longwood) 21-8 G Howe (Longwood)
Quarter-Finals:
Sigsworth 21-17 Haigh
Watson 21-12 Crowther (R)
Young 21-5 Howe
Crowther (A) 21-16 Blackburn
Semi-Finals:
Sigsworth 21-13 Watson
Young 21-20 Crowther (A)
FINAL: PAUL SIGSWORTH 21-13 EDWIN YOUNG
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