BOWLS REPORT - October 8th 2011

It’s been a good week for both of Sunderland’s senior squads as both enjoyed victories in the latest round of inter club fixtures. The A team finally got their campaign underway with a trip to Gateshead, overall they enjoyed a 5-0 (49-29) win. Pat Collins, Locky Todd, Vic Avery and debutee Fred Knubley ran out 22-10 winners while George Brown, John Smith, Gordon Cook and another debutee Bobby Graham eased to a 14-7 win. The remaining rink of Ritchie Jobling, Billy Hearne, Joe Flett and John Jones recovered from dropping a first end five to sneak home 13-12. Last weeks aborted home game against The Parks will take place on Thursday at 1230.

The B team bounced back from last week’s loss at Darlington to inflict a 4-1 (40-36) defeat on visitors Park View. John Banks, Vic Hendry, Tony Grimes and George Gibson romped to a 22-7 win, Ronnie Hart, Eddie Cook, Tom Jones and Billy Conway had to work hard for a 13-10 win, the remaining rink of Peter Duke, Bobby Adams, debutee Billy Roberts and Terry Todd never recovered from a 15-1 deficit and ended up going down 19-5.

 

The senior A team open up their Over 60’s double fours crusade with a preliminary round tie against The Parks, the home and away tie takes place on Sunday 9th October with a 1230 start, the games at Crowtree continue to come thick and fast as the Sunderland ladies open up their inter county campaign on Wednesday 12th October as they face Houghton, the game starts at 1230.

 

Durham County seniors will be looking to go one step further in the Over 60’s Liberty inter county competition after losing in the final last year, the county face Yorkshire on 20th October with the home leg being held at Darlington and the away leg at Featherstone. There are several local players involved, playing at Darlington is Houghton’s Jimmy McKinney while Houghton’s Eric Weightman is reserve, playing at Featherstone is Sunderland’s Ray Robinson and Joe Flett.

The county senior selectors have also selected a team for the John Dodsworth Cup tie against also Yorkshire, Sunderland’s Billy Hearne & Ray Robinson plus Houghton’s Tom Hayes, Eric Weightman have been selected, the tie takes place at Darlington on 3rd November at 1230.

 

In the national champion of champions there was disappointment for Sunderland’s Billy Ferry as he went out in the first round 21-16 at home to Stanley’s Alan Lawton.

 

All bowlers are reminded that the new national rule stating the skips must keep the scorecard only applies to outdoors, the indoor rules still state it’s the responsibility of the second. Any outstanding club membership renewals at Crowtree can be paid at the club’s bowls office, all players competing in any of the leagues must have a valid membership subscription.

There is a little bit of good news for the casual bowler at Crowtree, after last weeks suspension the Sunderland committee have agreed to provide casual sessions on the following times, Monday to Friday 1230-2.30, Friday 103-1230, Saturday and Sunday 1230-1430, there will also be limited rink availability  during all the current league sessions