The South Tamworth bowler leads the Central North Bowler of the Year points table by 100 points following a second place at the North Tamworth Pairs last weekend.

Herden partnered up with Danny Daley and just missed out on another win, with Tony Benny and Les Goodchild claiming the title with some tight bowling all day.

Paul Whitton and Scott Thorning claimed third with Laurie Assef and Bryon Cullen in fourth.

The second place points lifted Herden to 370 points for the season, although Goodchild’s victory made some ground up on the Tamworth City greenkeeper, with only 80 points separating the next best eight bowlers.

Goodchild is in second with 270, while Chris Collins and Kim Greentree are only 20 points behind, tied third on 250.

Scott Thorning is next with 230 points before a three-way tie between Chris Cameron, Cullen and Terry Cummins on 210, and Graham Harriott and Nigel McCarthy bringing up the rear of the winners’ table on 190.

The Bowler of the Year Award was brought back to life in 2013 and subsequently taken out by Herden, who then came a close runner-up to last year’s winner Nick Golledge.

Herden will not be able to play in next weekend’s penultimate Manilla Triples event as he is playing in the Champion of Champion singles at Kootingal the same weekend.

While he is well ahead of the field, Herden will have to put in a good performance at the Kootingal Triples at the end of September to claim a second Bob Fowler medal.