This week could prove to be a pivotal week in the race for the Earl Cup division one title as holders and leaders Houghton Dairy Lane defeated nearest challengers Roker Marine 6-1 to move well clear at the top of the table, even with the league at the half way stage Dairy Lane have already racked up 37 points out of a possible 43 and are the only team left unbeaten, at the foot of the table Hylton CW (7½) are looking in trouble and are 5½ points adrift from the third bottom team. In division two Grindon Mill (28) are looking nailed on for promotion as they have a seven point lead over second placed Whitburn with Houghton Town a further 2½ points further back. In the Swan Cup division one Usworth (30) have stormed to the top from Roker Park (27½) and holders Barnes Park (27), the bottom two places are filled by Houghton Town (7) & Hylton CW (9) with both teams already playing catch up on the rest of the teams. Last season Thompson Park suffered relegation to division two however this season they are looking to bounce back at the first attempt and lead Barnes West End by 3 points with Seaham Town & Ryhope 4½ points further behind.  

This years Harold Howey division one race is wide open with only 3½ points covering the top 9 teams, Ryhope B (22½) lead the way but only by a half point, last years winners Ryhope A look to have a relegation battle on their hands as they languish in 14^th place only 2½ points outside the drop zone. In division two Houghton Town (20½) are the narrow leaders from Lumley (20) with Dawdon (16½) chasing the top two, Hylton CW (7) & Herrington Workmen’s (6) are in the drop zone. In division three Silksworth B and Grindon Mill (23½) are joint leaders with Chester Le Street (22½) in third. The Storey Bowl lead continues to change hands between the two Houghton sides, the new leaders are Houghton Town (35) who have opened up a 9 point gap from neighbours Dairy Lane with Dawdon back in third.

Silver Jacks Results (Preliminary Round winners only) – W.Holmes (Dawdon), M.Wright (Pemberton), J.Horton (Thompson Park), TW.Todd (Roker Park), P.Harding (Hetton), W.Storey (Houghton Town), T.Jopling (Barnes Park), JJ.Carl (Silksworth), D.Morgan (HDL), B.Sanderson (Barley Mow), A.Nelson (Silksworth), K.Knubley (Whitburn), K.Stokoe (Pemberton), A.Brewster (Houghton Town)

Burkett Shield Results (Preliminary Round winners only) – J.Huntingdon (Roker Park), K.Knubley (Whitburn), K.Stokoe (Pemberton)

3-2-1 Quarter finals – Ryhope v Roker Park, Washington Glebe v Silksworth, Seaham Town beat Barley Mow, North Biddick v Grindon Mill

It’s a big weekend for Durham County’s Middleton Cup hopes are they travel to Wigton for the final group game against holders Cumbria, Durham on paper are favourites to qualify as Cumbria need to win on all six rinks but the Cumbrian’s have been in this position before and it wouldn’t come as any surprise if they repeated it again on there favourite Wigton surface. The county B team are also in action as they face Lancashire in the latest round of NC Alsop fixtures at Seaham.

The county C team travelled to Workington last weekend for a NC Armstrong Cup fixture, unfortunately it was a second successive defeat as Durham went down 62-94 (2-12) and are kept off bottom of the group by Lancashire on shots difference.

Scores (Durham skips first) – S.Don 11-24 J.Hynes, S.Clarke 21-15 E.Wilson, J.McAdoo 15-29 D.Balfour, J.Wilson 15-26 C.Phillips

As reported last week Marines Bobby Graham travels to Middlesbrough tomorrow for the regional finals of the champion of champions, the draw for the Quarter finals has been released and Graham faces York Railway’s Michael Bruce. Also at the same venue the ladies equivalent competition takes place and Houghton Dairy Lane’s Joan Rodgerson plays Swinton’s Susan Allen, both games start at 10am.               

County Championships (selected last sixteen results)

Singles – S.Jones (HDL) 7 v 21 J.Webster (Sherburn Vill), M.English (Dipton) 21 v 17 G.Wallace (Herrington Wkmens), R.Graham 21-8 I.Riches (both Roker Marine), K.Briscoe (HDL) 21 v 18 D.Andrews(Park).

Pairs – M.English (Dipton) 18 v 22 K.Briscoe (HDL), M.Squirrell (Park) 21 v 7 P.Smithson (HDL), F.Knubley (Whitburn) 12 v 27 A.Newton (Usworth), I.Riches (Marine) 12 v 26 E.Maul (Elm Tree)

Triples – K.Briscoe (HDL) 21 v 9 P.Stephenson (Owton Lodge), F.Smith (Whitburn) lost to R.Carson (Elm Tree), K.Roberts (Usworth) beat J.Horton (Thompson Pk), B.Poulter (Usworth) beat D.McAnley (Consett)

Fours – K.Peters (Mainsforth) 19 v 20 K.Briscoe (HDL), D.Morgan (HDL)15 v 16 E.Maul (Elm Tree), W.Palmer (Pelton Fell) 14 v 22 R.Mckie (Marine), F.Smith (Whitburn) 19 v 21 B.Henderson (Seaham)

Quarter Finals Draw

Singles – G.Peacock (Hundens) v C.Higgins (Mainsforth), M.English (Dipton) v J.Webster (Sherburn Vill), R.Graham (Marine) v D.Fenwick (Owton Lodge), K.Briscoe (HDL) 12 V 21 A.Kirtland (Darlington RA)

Pairs – A.Newton (Usworth) v E.Maul (Elm Tree), K.Briscoe (HDL) v S.Clarke (Hundens), D.Fenwick (Owton Lodge) v A.Kirtland (Darlington RA), N.Buckley (Darlington RA) v M.Squirrel (Park).

Triples – C.Higgins (Mainsforth) v R.Carson (Elm Tree), K.Briscoe (HDL) v J.Wells (Park), K.Roberts (Usworth) v A.Kirtland (Darlington RA), M.Ralphs (Darlington RA) v B.Poulter (Usworth).

Fours – E.Maul (Elm Tree) v B.Henderson (Seaham Town), R.Mckie (Marine) v K.Briscoe (HDL), J.Wells (Park) v K.Hind (Old Boys), A.Theobald (Dunston) v A.Kirtland (Darlington RA).

Two Bowl Semi Finals - S.Krimpen (HDL) or G.Peacock (Hundens) v P.Coulson (Leadgate), D.Fishburn (Newton Hall) v J.Smith (Marine),