BOWLS REPORT - October 15th 2011

It has been a good week for the Sunderland senior A team squad as they enjoyed a double victory over The Park’s firstly in the national Over 6o’s double fours and then in a rearranged inter club fixture.

In the Over 60’s double fours the home rink of Pat Collins, Locky Todd, Vic Avery and Billy Ferry recovered from an early 5-0 deficit to record a slim 17-16 win, at The Park’s the Sunderland rink of George Brown, Billy Hearne, Joe Flett and John Jones started well leading 5-1 and despite seeing that advantage whittled away Jones went into the final end only 17-16 down, with Ferry finished at Crowtree with a one shot advantage it meant whoever scored on the away squads final end won the tie, a nail biting finish saw Jones hold on for a single and finish 17-17 which sealed a tremendous 34-33 win. In the next round the A team face West Denton on Friday 28th October at 1230.  The B team entertain Houghton in the Over 60’s double fours on Friday 21st October at 1030.

The A team’s second success over The Parks came in the rearranged inter club fixture, Bobby Graham’s quartet of George Brown, Ronnie Robson and Gordon Cook looked set for a big win as they raced into a 11-1 lead after eight ends however in the end had to hang on to a narrow 11-9 win. Ritchie Jobling, George Simpson, Joe Flett and Fred Knubley led 7-6 at the half way mark but only managed another single over the remaining ends and went down 12-8. The remaining rink of Pat Collins, Jimmy Coundon, John Jones and Billy Ferry went on a shot rampage and only dropped a single shot while collecting four counts of five and a seven in amongst the club record breaking 50-1 score line, so overall the A team enjoyed a 4-1 (69-22) win and on Thursday entertain South Shield’s in the next round of fixtures at 1230.

The B team travel to Stanley on Monday looking to build on the previous win over Park View, team captain Anthony Wood has selected the following team.

T.Grimes, A.Wood, T.Jones, G.Gibson, J.Banks, V.Hendry, W.Conway, D.Hulley, P.Duke, R.Adams, A.Ferguson, TW.Todd. The game starts at 1030

After finishing runners up last season the Sunderland ladies made a disappointing start to this season’s inter club campaign as Houghton ladies enjoyed a 51 shot win. At Crowtree Doreen Kerrigan, Madge Robins, Hilda Snell and Eleanor Watson defeated Ellen Faith 20-11 while S.Davis, J.Milner, Anne Raine and Amy Bevan defeated M.Coulson 20-9. The normally reliable quartet of Alice Curtis, Pat Wayman, Pat Johnson and Ella Baker went down 19-10 to Maureen Hall, M.Nicholson, Audrey Vout and Norma Stephenson, that left the Sunderland ladies with an eleven shot advantage. On the slower Houghton surface the Houghton ladies had a field day running out winners by 73 shots, M.Metcalfe, N.Reay, P.Phythian and J.Lewis defeated Florence Rodenby 36-8, Susan Forster, P.Watts, L.Harker, Betty Johnson defeated Ethel Pattinson 32-10 and E.Ellis, E.Cowler, P.Vincent,J.Smith defeated Ann Todd, B.Thomspn, Alice Rush and Margaret Mitchinson 24-10.

National Results (Local)

Singles – P.Thomson (Sunderland) 21-16 G.Brass (Shields), J.Halcrow (Shields) 11-21 I.Riches (Stanley), T.Halcrow (Shields) 3-21 GR.Smith (Stanley), P.Duffy 17-21 D.Bolt (Stanley) , P.Dixon (Sunderland)21-11 M.Bennett (Parks)

Pairs – M.Bennett (Parks) 16-23 Pat Thomson (Sunderland)

There are concerns at the disappearance of newly purchased drake’s pride indoor jacks at Crowtree, the club has issued a seven day warning to members that all jacks will be removed after play should the full compliment of eight not reappear on the playing surface, it appears to be only a minority who are abusing the current set up but sadly it is affecting the majority. 

North East bowls sadly lost another one of its most well known players following the news that Stanley’s Tommy Buller (76) passed away. The term legend is often used very lightly however in Buller’s case he was a true bowling legend. On the green he was one of the most competitive player’s around and one of the few who would attract a crowd to watch him in action every time he visited Crowtree.  Indoors he became the first Durham County player to rack up 50 Liberty caps which was remarkable considering this was when the Liberty Cup was a knock out format, over an unbroken 18 year stint Buller represented Durham indoors and outdoors. National titles, county titles were a plenty to the Stanley star who made 12 indoor England appearances during 1978-82, he played during the golden era when the likes of Mal Hughes, George Turley and Ted Hanger were at their peak and helped set the bench mark to which many of the current big name local players strive to reach, despite having retired from the game to take up golf Buller was still a keen follower of the Stanley club where he was idolised and was considered by many to still be Mr Stanley IBC.