BOWLS REPORT - August 6th 2011

 

This seasons S&D Burkett Shield triples competition has been completed, the final was played at the current association president Jeff Wilson’s Herrington Workmen’s green. In the end it was a first Burkett success for Silksworth’s Vic Avery, Gary Farquhar and an inspired substitute Billy Ferry who took the shield with a 21-9 win over Thompson Park’s Ralph Goldsmith, John Horton and Dennis Hulley. In the semi finals Wayne Funnell skipped Avery & Farquhar to a 21-8 win over Seaham’s D.Wright while Hulley defeated Barnes West End’s Bobby Alexander 21-9.

 

Q/Final Results – D.Wright (Seaham Town) 20-15 (A.Cullan (Hetton), P.Baker (Silksworth) 14-15 R.Alexander (BWE), W.Funnell 21-14 L.Willey (Hetton), J.Horton (Thompson Park) 24-14 W.Piggott (North Biddick)

The ladies bowls scene has been a hive of activity as the SWBA completed three competitions, the Marjorie Marshall triples was played to a finish at Barnes Park & Barnes West End with the Thompson Park trio of Doreen Kerrigan, Mary Ramshaw and Florence Rodenby taking the title after defeating Sunderland’s Pauline Temple, Janet Sykes and Susan Almond 13-11. In the semi final’s Rodenby defeated another Sunderland squad Mary Clarke, Greta Spencer and Margaret Dawson 15-10 while Almond defeated Roker Park’s Ann Candlish, Susan Kempster and Pat Johnson 13-10. During the competition the organisers raised £200 which will be donated equally between St Benedict’s Hospice and the Parkinson disease charity.

The second completed competition was the SWBA Town pairs at Silksworth, the eventual winners were Roker Park’s Ann Candlish & Maureen Firth who defeated Sunderland’s Jean Graham & Christine Hopper 20-9 in the final. The Roker Park pair reached the final by defeating Whitburn’s Margaret Clarkson & Florrie Don 19-12 while Hopper reached the final by defeating Ryhope’s Win Carter & Brenda Forrest 18-14.

The remaining competition saw the SWBA Town singles take place at Silksworth, following a tense final Houghton Town’s Ellen Faith took the honours with a 21-19 win over Roker Marine’s Pat Wayman, in the semi final the Houghton star defeated Sunderland’s Janet Sykes 21-12 while Wayman defeated Thompson Park’s Margaret Blakey 21-7.

This season’s Earl Cup division one title race continues to be wide open, long time leaders Houghton Dairy Lane dropped down to 3rd following a defeat at Usworth which allowed Roker Marine to go top and Silksworth move into second however it was all change again this week as Silksworth went down 5-2 at Ryhope and the other two collected 6-1 wins, the latest position’s are Roker Marine 62, HDL 59, Silksworth 56, with Marine and Silksworth still to play each other Houghton are the slight favourites to take the title. The battle to avoid the drop has seen Herrington Workmen’s (22½) drop to bottom of the table with Seaham Town and North Biddick tied on 25½. In division two Sunderland (48½) and Houghton Town (46) occupy the promotion places with Washington (41) in third. The Swan Cup title race is wide open, following two consecutive wins this week Houghton Dairy Lane (63½) are the new leaders from Silksworth (61½) who lost there 24 game unbeaten record last week, the top two meet on Tuesday in a rearranged game, with there own green out of action Barley Mow (18½) have elected to use Mowbray for their home fixtures but they have a fight to avoid the drop and alongside South Hylton (21½) occupy the relegation places. Houghton Town (50½) and Washington (48) have a healthy lead in division two from Lumley (37½) with Pemberton (22) bottom. In the Vet’s Harold Howey leagues Barnes Park B (40) are still unbeaten and only need two points from there last three games to retain the division one title as nearest challengers Roker Park A & B have played a game more, the fight to avoid the drop looks between any two from Roker Marine A (14½), HDL A (13½), Washington A (13) and Houghton Town (12½) - the latter have played a game more than the rest. In division two Ryhope A (32½) look favourites to go up as they are five clear of North Biddick B (27½) and Pemberton A (27) while Barnes Park A (9½) and Sunderland A (7½) look in trouble at the foot of the table. In division three Houghton Dairy Lane B (41½) are promoted as they are ten points clear and still unbeaten in eleven games, Pennywell A (30½) and Thompson Park B (30) are fighting for the remaining promotion spot but only Thompson Park can catch the leaders, at the foot of the table Silksworth B (11½) and Hetton Park (13) are fighting to avoid the wooden spoon. In the Storey Bowl Hetton Workmen’s (58) are still unbeaten after nine games and have a healthy twelve point lead over Seaham Town who have a game in hand.   

The Ladies national championships are taking place at Leamington Spa, in the fours championship  Sunderland’s Pauline Temple, Jean Graham, Janet Sykes and Sue Almond went out in the first round 32-12 to Norfolk’s Brenda Whitehead, the other Durham qualifier Consett’s Gill Jones also made a first round exit 20-19 to Cornwall’s Hilary Carthew. In the two bowl championships Sunderland’s Sue Almond defeated Surrey’s Pauline Clark 16-12 to set up a second round tie against former internationalist Hampshire’s Wendy Line, sadly Almond lost a thriller 14-13, the other Durham qualifier Shildon’s Anne Camp also went out in the second round. On Monday morning the talented Houghton Diary Lane county triples champions Susan Forster, Glynis Morgan and Joan Rogerson will open there campaign with a first round tie against Hampshire’s Kay Kerley. In the final of the John’s Trophy Hampshire sealed a second win in four years with a 112-99 win over Devon, in the semi finals Hampshire defeated Cumbria with the final bowl of the game.