Close call for Rich at double

Shropshire bowler Rich Goddard suffered a double dose of 21-20 misery at two big events over the weekend.

The Castlefields stalwart lost by that heart-breaking score against Dean Ferris (Potteries) in the final of the Midland Masters at Rolls Royce in Derby yesterday.

And 24 hours earlier the same score spelt the end of his Autumn Waterloo campaign against Warrington's Billy Burlinson.

Holder Andy Moss (Chester Road) and county champion Peter Farmer (St Georges) also bowed out at Saturday's last 64 stage, beaten 21-19 by Graham Hickey (Yorkshire) and 21-18 by Danny Barwise (Merseyside) respectively.