STEVE Hindle broke the heart of home star Ian Edmondson to claim the glory of the Great Harwood and District Bowling League’s Harold Blackburn Trophy.

The Rushton Street A ace trailed the Clitheroe Cricket A teamer in an enthralling final on the Chatburn Road green but Hindle hit the front when it mattered in the final end to take the silverware 21-20.

On a glorious day Edmondson, who had beaten Free Gardners A teamer Mick Burns and Craig Ramell of Globe Heys on his way to the final, started well in front of a healthy crowd and used his home green advantage to the full as he opened up a 9-3 lead.

Hindle, who beat Ribblesdale B’s Martin Rimmer in the quarter-final and his Rushton Street A team-mate Stewart Gall in the last four, was not to denied though and battled back to 9-9 as the tide appeared to have turned.

But Edmondson once again exploited the green he knows so well to take eight chalks without reply as he went 17-9 ahead and within touching distance of the title.

However, Hindle once again dug deep to battle back to within a single chalk only to be put onto the back foot once again by Edmondson, who managed to extend his advantage to 20-16.

He looked to have the game sewn up at the next end, when he produced an excellent lead bowl, no more than six inches at the side of the jack.

Hindle’s first wood was a foot short while Edmondson’s second wood went 18 inches through.

That gave Hindle the opening he needed and his second bowl brilliantly nudged out Edmondson’s lead wood to leave himself two chalks that saved the game and made it 20-18.

That blow rocked Edmondson and he was unable to recover as Hindle then seized his opportunity and produced a two from the next end and then a single in the next to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

The trophy was presented by family members of the late Harold Blackburn, his son Malcolm Blackburn, his daughter Cynthia Sharp and great-grandchildren, Mia and Samuel Haslam.

The Results Quarter-Finals: Steve Hindle (Rushton St A) 21 Martin Rimmer (Ribblesdale B) 14, Stewart Gall (Rushton St A) 21 Steve Townley (Oakhill Vets) 18, Ian Edmondson (Clitheroe Ckt A) 21 Mick Burns (Free Gardeners A) 15, Craig Ramell (Globe Heys) 21 Eric Wallace (Ribblesdale A) 15 Semi-Finals: Steve Hindle 21 Stewart Gall 11, Ian Edmondson 21 Craig Ramell 11 Final: Steve Hindle 21 Ian Edmondson 20 The third round of the Great Harwood and District Bowling League’s Leonard Whittaker Cup takes place on Thursday night.

There are a number of intriguing clashes as team look for glory and last year’s runners-up Globe Heys look to go one better than 12 months ago when they travel to face Great Harwood H.

Third round ties Free Gardeners A v Oakhill Vets, Gt Harwood H v Globe Heys, Salesbury A v Sabden Red, Gt Harwood A v Ossy Con Club, Rushton St B v Globe A, East Lancs v Roe Lee Park, Green Park v Mercer Park, Rushton St A v Rishton Con A All ties start at 7pm