North Cliff’s Dan Cooper defeats dad John in Whitby Bowling Club Merit final​

The merit was kindly sponsored by club and league stalwart Geoff Watson.

In the quarter-finals, Ray Leeman (Whitby Bowling Club) defeated Jennie Allen (Hunmanby BC), then Kenny Wale, also of Whitby BC, beat Thomas Colclough, of Doncaster.

Also in the final eight, Dan Cooper (North Cliff) managed to see off the winner of the two previous merits, Andy Deighton, of Dukes Park (Bridlington), while 85-year-old John Cooper, also of the North Cliff club, saw off East Coast League Secretary Emmo Emmerson (Whitby BC).

In the semi-finals, in two keenly-fought games, Cooper Snr beat Leeman 21-15, while Cooper Jnr managed to see off Wale by a 21-14 margin.

In the final, son Dan got off to a flier taking the lead early and not letting Dad back in to the game eventually coming out victorious with a 21-12 victory.

This was a tremendous effort from Cooper Snr as he has only been back playing four weeks ago due to knee and shoulder injuries, getting to the final in only his second merit of the season.

The next merit will be staged on Sunday, July 16, where father and son partner each other in the North Cliff Over and Under-65s competition sponsored by The North Riding Brewery.

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