BOWLS REPORT - July 23rd 2011

This season’s Durham county finals were played at Newton Hall, Durham and there was a county double for Silksworth’s new England internationalist David Bolt.  Firstly in the pairs Bolt partnered Keith Avery to a 21-3 win over fellow Silksworth club mate’s the father & son duo of Scott and Paul Baker, this was a second pair’s success for the Bolt/Avery duo as they had previously lifted the title in 2007. Following that success Bolt faced Paul Baker again - this time in the singles final, with the score at 11-11 play was suspended due to heavy rain and the twenty minute delay affected Baker more as Bolt went on to lift a first county singles title 21-11. The triples and fours both went to Darlington RA as county team manager Andrew Kirtland defeated club mate Neil Buckley 13-10 in the triples and then Kirtland defeated Dipton’s Michael English 21-9 in the fours. The Two bowl singles went to Dipton’s D.Warnaby who defeated Hunden’s Graham Peacock 21-12 while Stockton’s Derek Hunter defeated RA’s Mark Jones 21-19 to become the first winner of the new George Turley Champion of Champions trophy. The remaining county final was the Under 25 singles and with only the winner guaranteed a spot at the national championships at Worthing there was a bit more at stake on the day than the other finals, sadly for Roker Marine’s Phillip Dixon a slow start put pay to his chances as RA’s Keith Burton took the title for the first time 21-14. 

There was good news for the county B team as they defeated Lancashire at a very wet Darlington Woodland to seal a Northern Counties Alsop title, needing at least sixteen points from the game the Durham lad’s had to work hard for a 20-2 (134-93) win, Seaham Town’s Jimmy McAdoo enjoyed a cracking 36-14 win and in the end Durham only lost on one of the six rinks.
A.Taylor 20-18  A.Watson, M.Bertram 14-16 N McFarlane, D.Oram 20-16 V.Mellor, J. McAdoo 36-14 D.Burdoe, A.Dunn 26-11 D.Murram, G.Cockerill 19-18 J.Benuie.
The other game in the group between Northumberland and Cumbria was abandoned and as Durham are already confirmed as champions the game will not be replayed.
Final Alsop Standings – Durham 70, Cumbria 44, Yorkshire 42, Northumberland 36, Lancashire 6

The last few weeks have been hard for the Barley Mow club following the much publicised arson attack on their clubhouse, well like a phoenix rising from the flames they rallied and have retained the Sunderland & District 3-2-1 knock out triples title, next year they will attempt to become the first team to retain it three years on the trot. This year’s final was played at the district’s President Jeff Wilson’s home green at Herrington Workmen, in the final holders Barley Mow faced 1995 champions Usworth, in a tight affair Barley Mow came out on top on two rinks, one level and one in Usworth’s favour with the overall score 228-204 in Barley Mow’s favour.  

 

Scores (Barley Mow skips first) – B.Sanderson 64-44 M.Smith, W.Hearne 49-59 A.Newton, R.Sanderson 54-54 I.Swales, G.Gibson 61-47 G.Hackett
With the Barley Mow clubhouse out of action for the season they have elected to play all there remaining home league games at Mowbray.

Whitburn held its annual Open Pairs event and from the 34 entries it was a Whitburn pair that took the prize money as John Smith and Fred Knubley defeated Sandra Hinds & Eva Hinds 15-2 in the final to take the £200 first prize.
Results – Quarter finals -  W Holmes/L Wilcock beat M Laydon/I Riches, A Birrell/A Clark beat J Brass/I McIntosh, S & E Hinds beat M & J Eggleston, J Smith/F Knubley beat D Wilson/J Pringle
Semi finals - S & E Hinds beat A Birrell/A Clark 12-6, J Smith/F Knubley beat W Holmes/L Wilcock 15-5
Final - J Smith/F Knubley beat S & E Hinds 15-2

There is some good news for the casual bowlers at Crowtree as the Sunderland Indoor Club have agreed to handle all the administration regarding bookings, this will enable casual bowling to continue as it is, notices will be posted within the bowls hall given the relevant information, the new indoor leagues will commence on Monday 5th September.

The Earl Cup division one leaders Houghton Dairy Lane bounced back from last weeks 6-1 defeat at North Biddick to inflict a 7-0 defeat on Thompson Park to increase there lead at the top to 2½ points, Roker Marine defeated Ryhope 5½-1½ while holders Silksworth defeated Usworth 6-1 and with only 3½ points covering the top three its anyone’s title this year. In the Swan Cup holders Silksworth (54½) have opened up a healthy 8½ point lead over second placed Ryhope with Houghton Dairy Lane back in third but they have a game in hand on the leaders. Houghton Town (48½) and Washington (43) are still on course for promotion from division two. In the Harold Howey Barnes Park B are unbeaten in nine and have a 5½ point lead over Roker Park A, the race for promotion from division two is wide open with only 4½ points covering the top 6 teams, Ryhope A and North Biddick B (both 25½) are in the two prime spots. In division three Houghton Dairy Lane B have only dropped 1½ points out of a maximum of 36 and are red hot favourites to go up while Thompson Park B and Pennywell A are separated by only ½ a point. This seasons Storey Bowl looks all over as holders Hetton Workmen’s (58) are a massive 18 points clear of Seaham Town who have two games in hand.

Last season Houghton Dairy Lane decided to enter the Durham District league on a Saturday rather than the Storey bowl, in there first season they romped to promotion into division two and this season they are set for a second successive promotion as they are joint top with Vane Tempest but Houghton have a game in hand,