PAUL Sutcliffe staged not one but two of the greatest comebacks in the history of the Alexandra Classic to clinch a hat-trick of titles.

The Blackburn bowler twice came back from the brink of defeat to win one of the best competitions on the bowls calendar - beating defending champion Callum Wraight 31-22 in a thrilling final.

Sutcliffe, know as Sutty in the bowls fraternity, went in to the competition as one of East Lancashire’s form players and he showed all that confidence as he turned losing positions in to winning ones against Paul Bailey in the semi final and again against Wraight in the final.

Having defeated Cumbria’s number one Andy Thornton 31-24 in the quarter final, Sutcliffe’s involvement appeared to be going no further than the semi-finals when he trailed 20-9 against Sheffield’s Bailey.

But in a superb display of bowls from both players, Sutcliffe fought back to drew level at 25-25 before going in to a 29-27 lead only for Bailey to fight back.

With the game firmly in balance, Sutcliffe held his nerve to get the two points he needed to seal a nail-biting 31-29 victory and book his place in the final.

On the other side of the draw Wraight eased in to the final with a 31-25 win over Great Harwood’s Stuart Gall before beating John Hanson from Chipping 31-16.

The Blackburn bowler could have been forgiven for being mentally and physically drained from the clash and it looked like defending champion Wraight, who also lifted the trophy in 2013, would take full advantage as he played his favoured ‘short mark’ game to perfection as he opened up a commanding 17-2 lead.

But once again, Sutcliffe - cheered on by a large crowd at the Dukes Brow venue - demonstrated his ability to fight back and once he gained control of the jack, he adopted the ‘long mark’ game to devastating effect as he won 29 of the next 34 points to add to the Classic titles he won in 2009 and 2014.

Organiser, Garry Fielding, said: “I’ve been running this competition for the last 11 years and that is the best finals day we have had in that time. We had three former winners in the semi finals and all eight finalists produced bowls of the highest order but Sutty was on a different level.

“He is probably the form player in East Lancashire right now and he showed that.

“He just didn’t know when he was beaten. To do it once is great but to do it twice and against the defending champion and one of the best bowlers around was just brilliant.

“There was a superb turn-out and all those spectators were treated to something special. The standard of bowls on the day yet again demonstrated just why this is one of the best bowls competitions in the North West.”

The competition, now in its 28th year, was once again sponsored by Red Star Pub Company and also supported by Sue Ainsworth, the landlady of the Alex.

“Once again I must thank the sponsors and Sue the landlady of the Alexandra for their continuous support and to my loyal marker’s who turn up every weekend,” added Fielding.

Sutcliffe picked up the £400 first place prize fund with Wraight winning £200 as runner-up. Losing semi finalists received £100 with quarter finalists getting £50.

n Results

Quarter finals:

John Hanson (Chipping)31-17 Colin Crawford (Blackburn), Callum Wraight (Shrewsbury) 31-25 Stuart Gall (Great Harwood), Paul Sutcliffe (Blackburn) 31-24 Andy Thornton (Cumbria), Paul Bailey (Sheffield) 31-20 Neil Grant (|Manchester)

Semi finals: Callum Wraight 31-16 John Hanson, Paul Sutcliffe 31-29 Paul Bailey

Final: Paul Sutcliffe 31-22 Callum Wraight