KATH Perks won the Knutsford Friday League’s Individual Merit for the first time on Sunday, defeating her clubmate Steve Elstone on the duo’s home green.

It proved to be third time lucky for the Cranford member, beaten in the final in 2004 and again five years later.

Elstone hopes his fortune will change similarly, for he has now lost in back-to-back finals.

Perks edged a close encounter by 21-19 after beating another Cranford bowler, Joyce Smith, in the last four.

Elstone had ended the run of High Legh’s Ian Barrett.

Sides from the second tier will contest the Team Knockout semi finals next month.

Holders, and Division One leaders, Victory Hall A crashed out against Chelford B at Knutsford Bowling Club, where they toiled to overturn an 88-chalk handicap deficit.

The closest tie was at Equiport, where top flight side Cranford A succumbed by eight points to Chelford A.

Mere A were the third higher-ranked team to exit at the last eight stage, falling 53 chalks short against Knutsford B.

The remaining match was played at Mere between rivals from Division Two, with Oughtrington B making safe in style a semi finals place at the expense of High Legh B.

Results Knutsford Friday League Team Knockout, Quarter finals (team handicap in brackets): Cranford A (12) 176 Chelford A (68) 184; High Legh B (80) 183 Oughtrington B (76) 222; Knutsford B (84) 228 Mere A (24) 175; Victory Hall A (4) 158 Chelford B (92) 185.

Individual Merit, Quarter finals (handicap in brackets): Ian Barrett, HL (9) 21 Sandra Forrest, Che (11) 19; Derek Nicholls, War (5) 9 Steve Elstone, Crn (scr) 21; Kath Perks, Crn (2) 21 Bernard McLenaghan, Crn (1) 18; Joyce Smith, Crn (7) 21 Dave Lowe, Che (3) 19.

Semi finals: Barrett (9) 19 Elstone (scr) 21; Perks (2) 21 Smith (7) 18. Final: Perks (2) 21 Elstone (scr) 19.