BOWLS REPORT - July 2nd 2011

Despite a 133-119 win the Durham County A team just failed to collect enough match points in there final Northern Counties Muras Trophy fixture against Northumberland, the 15-7 points return wasn’t enough to retain the title but the result will lift morale for next weekends Middleton Cup dead rubber against Derbyshire.

Scores (Durham skips first)

 J.Wells 22-22 S.Lant, G.Skipp 17-23 K.Wall, A.Macey 19-21 C.Palmer, J.Mansfield 25-15 R.Train, A.Kirtland 28-14 S.Harvey, D.Bolt 20-24 P.Ging.

 

Final table

Northumberland 44, Durham 40, Yorkshire 35, Lancashire 13

 

This weekend the county B team travel to Stockton to entertain Cumbria in the next round of Northern Counties Alsop Cup fixtures, with leaders Cumbria only four points clear of Durham and with twenty two points offer at Stockton a Durham win would greatly enhance the counties hopes of lifting the Northern Counties title.

 

Current Alsop Table

Cumbria 38, Durham 34, N/Land 26, Yorkshire 8, Lancashire 4.

 

 

The second stage of this season’s county competitions has reached the quarter finals stage, with plenty of local interest the remaining competitors are just two games away from clinching a place at the national championships at Worthing. In the singles Whitburn’s Stevie Don had a cracking 21-20 win over RA’s Clive Black to set up a quarter final tie against Dunston Alex Bryden, meanwhile Houghton’s Kenny Briscoe faces a tough tie against RA’s Rob Chisholm with the winner meeting Silksworth’s Paul Baker or Park’s Colin Jefferson, the remaining quarter final will see Silksworth’s David Bolt play Leadgate’s Gary Robson. In the pairs the Silksworth father and son partnership of Scott and Paul Baker have moved into the semi final after a cracking 19-18 win over RA’s Clive Black and Rob Chisholm and will play the winner of Hunden’s Graham Peacock or Mainsforth’s Ritchie Walker who defeated Herrington Workmen’s Jeff Wilson 35-6. Roker Marine’s Ray Robinson and Bobby Graham eased past Mainsforth’s Billy Maddison to set up a quarter final tie against Dunston’s Alex Bryden with the winner to face either Silksworth’s David Bolt or Houghton Dairy Lanes Locky Todd.  In the triples the Roker Marine trio of Phil Dixon, Pat & Pete Thomson had a dramatic last bowl 13-12 win over Stockton’s Les Parnell to set up a tough quarter final against Owton Lodge’s David Fenwick, there is another Silksworth/Houghton clash as Wayne Funnell faces Kenny Briscoe. In the fours there were good wins for Silksworth’s David Bolt and Houghton’s David Morgan, in the last eight Bolt will face Owton Lodge’s David Fenwick who sneaked past Barnes Park’s Kevin Richardson while Morgan faces RA’s Andrew Kirtland, in the other half of the draw Roker Marine’s Phil Dixon face’s Hunden’s Stuart Clarke.  In the two bowl competition the holder Usworth’s Brain Poulter has been knocked out but Barnes Park’s Tommy Jopling received a bye into the semi final and will face Dipton’s D.Warnaby.

 

There was a controversial ending in the Earl Cup  as leaders Houghton Dairy Lane (37½) lost there unbeaten record, holders Silksworth (29) ran out 7-0 winners as bad weather ended the game early, the Dairy Lane club also lost there unbeaten record in the Swan Cup after a 5-2 defeat at Barnes Park which allowed holders Silksworth to move to the top. Houghton Town are on course for a double promotion as they are currently leading both Earl and Swan Cup division two leagues. Holders Barnes Park B notched there eighth straight win in the veterans Harold Howey division one, in division two only half a point cover a top three of Ryhope A, Hetton Workmen’s and Dawdon with Wearmouth and Sunderland A occupying the bottom two places. In division three Houghton Dairy Lane B (27) are unbeaten after seven wins with Pennywell B in second place, Hetton Workmen (37) are still unbeaten in the Sotrey Bowl and lead Houghton Town by nine points.

 

This weekend Silksworth’s David Bolt will make his outdoor international debut as he travels to Sighthill in Scotland for the home international series, on Saturday England face Wales followed by the auld emery clash against Scotland then on Sunday they finish off against Ireland.

 

There was sad news for Durham County indoor association with the news that county stalwart Ben Crosby (92) passed away following a lengthy illness, over the years Crosby organised the Durham Vice Presidents Select team and raised vital funds for the county association.

 

There was mixed news for the local indoor bowlers at Crowtree, firstly it was confirmed there were no plans to close the centre although the opening hours on a weekend have been adjusted to 10am till 6pm, therefore the two weekend leagues will now start at 1030am instead of 10am, any team that registered for either league that will be unable to accommodate the enforced change are requested to contact the club secretary. From October 1st the ability to book casual bowls will be removed as the centre has moved to a block booking system and will not accept any cash bookings although the indoor club will be looking to introduce something to help the casual bowler.

 

North east ladies bowls suffered a huge blow following the tragic passing away of Carole Mclean (27), in April won the Scarborough star won the ladies national indoor singles title and was a current England international, rated as one of the brightest talents in the ladies game only last week Mclean played in the home international series.