BOWLS REPORT - December 17th 2011

As the Christmas break arrives the last remaining action at Crowtree has been taking place, in the seniors inter club league the Sunderland B team’s play off hopes received a massive boost as they defeated the current group leaders Darlington B 5-0 (49-26). John Banks, Tony Wood, Billy Roberts and George Gibson defeated F.Davis 20-9 while Bobby Usher, Bobby Adams, Alf Ferguson and Terry Todd defeated J.Beaston 18-8. The remaining squad of Tom Jones, Eddie Cook, Billy Conway and Dennis Hulley had to work hard to defeat R.Metcalf 11-9, so having started the game 7½ points behind the leaders the B team go into 2012 only 2½ points behind the leaders, there next game is a trip to Park View on Thursday 6th January at 2pm.

The Sunderland A team’s unbeaten record was ended as The Parks ran out 3-2 (41-34) winners, it was always going to be difficult for the Sunderland squad who were missing four key players due to the Durham County seniors in action at Lincoln. Pat Collins, George Simpson, John Jones and Tommy Jopling turned around a 8-3 deficit to sneak home 13-12, Bobby Graham’s quartet of John Smith, Ronnie Robson and Jim Coundon did well to recover from 9-1 down to sneak home 15-14. Sadly the remaining rink of George Brown, Ted Forster, Vic Avery and Fred Knubley never recovered from a slow start trailing 8-0 and it finished 15-6, so a first defeat for the A team but they are still on course for the play offs. The A team’s next fixture against Gateshead has been rearranged, originally set for Thursday 5th January the Gateshead side couldn’t field a team therefore coupled with the Durham County squad also in action a new date of Wednesday 11th January at 1230 has been agreed to.

The early stages of the various club competitions at Crowtree have been taking place, the latest results are as follows

Singles – J.Coundon 21-10 J.Richardson, W.Ferry 18-21 G.Farquhar, R.Robinson 21-11 M.Laydon, TW.Todd 18-21 W.Hearne, GR.Smith 21-4 P.Thomson (snr), E.Peacock 1-21 Pete Thomson, G.Simpson 12-21 M.Ramsey, D.Morgan 0-1 R.Borthwick, D.Fenwick 7-21 N.Ridley, R.Graham 21-20 W.Mitchell, A.Thompson 8-21 G.Brown, J.Flett 19-21 Pat Thomson, F.Froud 1-0 F.Adams, P.Dixon 21-12 M.Wright, L.Todd 1-21 D.Bolt

Pairs – D.Todner 20-7 J.Richardson, E.Fountain 5-26 Pete Thomson, R.Graham 15-8 S.Angus, Pete Thomson 16-12 M.Laydon, TW.Todd 20-9 J.Coundon, F.Knubley 10-15 P.Dixon, R.Graham 10-19 G.Farquhar, R.Jobling 9-15 D.Hulley, D.Todner 1-0 J.Lambert, W.Ferry 14-10 L.Todd

Triples – D.Fenwick 0-1 J.Flett, W.Ferry 19-2 E.Fountain, L.Todd 7-10 S.Angus

Fours – W.Ferry 19-10 R.Graham

Two Bowl – D.Morgan 0-1 F.Froud, A.Thompson 0-1 A.Grimes,. W.Hearne 21-19 L.Todd, J.Flett 21-18 W.Mitchell, J.Coundon 7-21 T.Jopling, M.Laydon 21-18 D.Todner

Senior Singles – R.Graham 0-1 L.Todd, TW.Todd 0-1 A.Grimes, G.Simpson 1-21 J.Flett, T.Jopling 21-6 R.Jobling, L.Todd 21-18 W.Heanre, A.Grimes 15-21 J.Smith, G.Brown 21-9 E.Peacock, R.Borthwick 7-21 F.Knubley, R.Robinosn 21-13 J.Coundon, W.Roberts 21-15 P.Thomson, T.Jopling 21-10 G.Brown.

Senior Pairs – G.Simpson 17-6 P.Thomson, J.Coundon 2-25 L.Todd, A.Grimes 5-31 W.Ferry

Senior 2 Bowl – G.Brown 21-11 TW.Todd, F.Knubley 5-21 T.Jopling, A.Grimes 21-18 J.Smith, G.Simpson 21-19 L.Todd, R.Robinson 14-21 J.Flett

Mixed Pairs – R.Graham 1-0 D.Hulley, R.Robinson 14-10 J.Smith

Novice Pairs – M.Eggleston 22-10 E.Barren, T.Mclaren 0-1 D.Fenwick, P.Dixon 8-13 F.Knubley

Ladies Singles – A.Bevan 21-11 F.Rodenby

Ladies Pairs – E.Baker 17-7 M.Eggleston   

 

All bowlers at Crowtree are reminded that the centre will be closed from Monday 19th December and reopens on Tuesday 3rd January, all the leagues will recommence on the 3rd January.

 

As the area section of this season’s national competitions begin to enter the latter stages in the singles last years beaten national singles finalist Stanley’s Gary Smith went out 21-18 after a classic encounter against pairs partner David Bolt, in the area semi finals Bolt awaits the winner between Ian Riches (Stanley) and Chris Yeomans (Parks). In the pairs the Smith / Bolt combination moved into the last four after a 21-17 win over South Shield’s Ian McIntosh and will now face club mate Brett Arkley. In the over 60’s singles Sunderland’s Tommy Jopling whitewashed Gateshead’s R.Charlton 21-0 to move into the semi finals where he will face another Gateshead player R.Graham.

In the ladies Mason double fours Houghton ladies run was ended by Cumbria who ran out 54-31 winners to set up a last sixteen tie against Thornaby. In the Under 25’s Sunderland Phillip Dixon finally knows his area final opponent after Blackpool’s D.McVittie won two games to face Dixon,  the venue or date of the area final has yet to be confirmed.

 

It has been a disappointing week for the Durham County senior squad, in there latest round of Midland league fixtures the Durham lads went down 19-3 to debutants Lincolnshire, out of the six rinks Durham could only muster one win and a draw, locally Sunderland’s Billy Hearne, Eric Weightman and Ray Robinson went down 26-11, Tommy Jopling went down 29-19 and Joe Flett went down 21-17 while Houghton’s Jimmy McKinney drew 23-23. The second blow was the news that Yorkshire defeated Lancashire 20-6 (132-88) to end Durham’s slim hopes of progressing in the Over 60’s national inter county league, the win for Yorkshire sets up a semi final tie against Essex.

Final Group standings – Yorkshire 36, Durham 28, Lancashire 14.

 

Following the recent international trial the England selectors have named the team to defend the home international series title at Swansea in March, locally Stanley’s David Bolt and Brett Arkley retain there places while Darlington’s Andrew Kirtland also retains his place third to City of Ely’s Greg Harlow, Hartlepool’s Glenn Skipp steps up from the bench and joins Kirtland at second bowl, Stanley’s Gary Smith withdrew from the trial and is not available for the series.