BOWLS REPORT - July 16th 2011

There has been some quality bowls on show in the area as this years county semi finals were completed, only the semi final winners are guaranteed a place at Worthing in the national championships during August. Happily its been good week locally as the area will be represented in the singles, pairs and Under 25’s county finals, the county singles final will be an all Silksworth affair as David Bolt will take on the 1995 champion Paul Baker, in the semi finals Bolt defeated Dunston’s Alec Bryden 21-8 while Baker defeated Houghton Dairy Lane’s Ken Briscoe 21-14. The pairs final will see Bolt and Baker face each other again, in the semi finals Bolt with Keith Avery defeated Roker Marine’s Bobby Graham & Ray Robinson 24-15 while Baker was joined by son Scott to defeat Mainsforth’s Ritchie Walker 22-7, should the father & son duo win the county final they will become only the 3rd family combination to lift the county title. There was disappointment in the triples semi finals as Silksworth’s Scott Baker, Gary Farquhar and Wayne Funnell were left rueing an early dropped six and went down 20-11 to the 2009 county champion’s RA’s Clive Black, Tony Macey and Andrew Kirtland, the triples final will be an all RA affair as Neil Buckley defeated Owton Lodge’s David Fenwick 21-12. The fours semi finals provided double disappointment as Silksworth’s Billy Ferry, Paul Baker, Keith Avery and David Bolt went down 23-6 to RA’s Andrew Kirtland, then in the other semi final Roker Marine’s Phillip Dixon, Ray Robinson, Peter Thomson and Bobby Graham grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory and let slip a 13-6 lead to lose 19-17 against Dipton’s Michael English. In the Junior Singles only the actual county champion will progress to Worthing but there is still local interest as Roker Marine’s Phillip Dixon defeated current county champion RA’s Barry Hopkin’s 21-9, in the final Dixon will face RA’s Keith Burton who in turn defeated Silksworth’s Gary Farquhar 21-14. Barnes Park’s Tommy Jopling’s hopes of making the county two bowl final were dashed as Dipton’s David Warnaby ran out a 21-11 winner to set up a final against the 2003 champion Hunden’s Graham Peacock who defeated Owton Lodge’s Tom Grainger 21-20, next season the two bowl county champion will progress to Worthing although whether the 600 mile round trip for what in theory could be a 30 minute game of bowls may not be appealing to the recipient. The county finals take place on Sunday at Newton Hall next to the Durham Indoor club, with several duplications the finals day has been split with the pairs, triples and two bowl finals starting at 10am followed by the singles, fours, Under 25’s and county champion of champions singles at 2pm

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The Durham County A team completed there Middleton Cup campaign at Houghton Dairy Lane against Derbyshire, with both teams only playing for pride and to avoid the group wooden spoon the much changed Durham side ran out comfortable 135-75 (22-0) winners, with team manager RA’s Andrew Kirtland deciding to give all the squad a game Durham enjoyed wins on all six rinks.
Scores (Durham skips first) - J.Mansfield 26v9 M.Allsopp, A.Bryden 26v7 P.Broughton, W.Funnell 19v13 S.Skelton, C.Northam 24v16 J.Arnett, A.Macey 20v18 P.Wilkinson, J.Wells 20v12 J.Haskins

The other tie in the group saw Northumberland clinch a quarter final place as they defeated Notts 120-114 (14-8) to finish top of the group and will face Norfolk on 23rd July at Leicestershire’s Goodwood BC.

In the National Over 60’s mixed double fours Houghton Dairy Lane’s cracking run came to an end as they went down 36-24 to Blaby BC from Leicestershire. In the Mixed Pairs Silksworth’s David Bolt & Lyndhurst’s Sandra Hinds run came to an end with a 20-19 at the hands of Workington’s David Gregory. Hetton’s Norma Stephenson’s run in the Over 55’s pairs came to an abrupt end with a 25-3 defeat at the hands of Consett’s Gill Jones, Stephenson also went out in the mother & daughter pairs 25-21 to Maryport’s Joyce Hodgson, in the champion of champions Washington Glebe’s Beatrice Jobling went down 21-13 to Lyndhurst’s Sandra Hind who in turn has progressed to the area final and will play Consett’s Teresa Pearson for a place at Leamington.      

On Tuesday the final of the S&D 3-2-1 knock out triples will take place at the association president Jeff Wilson’s home green Herrington Workmen’s, despite the turmoil of losing there club house the current holders Barley Mow are still on course to retain the title after a semi final win over Seaham Town, in the final the holders will face the 1995 champions Usworth who defeated Lumley in the other semi final.
This season’s Earl Cup took yet another twist as leaders Houghton Dairy Lane went down 6-1 at North Biddick, that defeat coupled with Roker Marines 5-2 win over Barnes West End means Houghton’s lead at the top is down to a single point, holders Silksworth moved in to 3rd place after a 6-1 win over Grindon Mill but then proceeded to lose there game in hand 5-2 against Thompson Park and are 2½ points behind the leaders, the battle to avoid the drop is also wide open as only three points cover Herrington Wkmen’s, North Biddick, Seaham Town and Ryhope. In division two leaders Sunderland (43) and Houghton Town (39) have a healthy lead over third placed Washington (29½). The Swan Cup holders Silksworth (48) are still unbeaten after eight games and following on from last season are now unbeaten for an amazing 23 games, the lead this year is only 3½ points over Houghton Dairy Lane with Usworth back in third. At the foot of the table South Hylton are still looking for their first win and are 4½ points off safety with Barley Mow (16½) and North Biddick (17) fighting to avoid the other relegation spot, in division two Houghton Town (46½) and Washington (41½) look favourites for promotion are they are clear of Lumley (31). The leaders of the three Howey leagues are as follows – Div1 Barnes Park B (33), Roker Park A (23½); Div 2 Ryhope A (25½), Dawdon (22½); Div 3 Houghton Dairy Lane B (30½), Pennywell A (25½). In the Storey Bowl holders Hetton Workmen’s are a massive 18 points clear of Seaham Town who have two results still outstanding.