Durham’s Middleton Cup qualification hopes came to an abrupt end at Gosforth as they lost their final group game against Northumberland 18-4. Durham needed to win to keep alive their hopes but with the county having a poor record on the Gosforth surface old demons resurfaced. For the majority of the game Durham were always around ten shots adrift until a late charge got them back to within a single shot, sadly in a repeat of the quarter final loss against Lincolnshire they leaked shots across the green and the chance was; gone eventually succumbing to a 105-92 loss. Across the green Durham only managed two winning rinks, RA’s Barry Hopkin beat Gary Myersclough 25-14 and Dairy Lane’s Dale Oram beat Steven Harvey 15-13. The other group game saw Yorkshire beat unbeaten Cumbria to open up the qualify place. The final games will see Lancashire host Cumbria and Northumberland host Yorkshire, Durham have their bye.
The women’s County John’s Trophy squad bring their campaign to an end on Saturday as the host Northumberland at Pelton Fell, the latter still have a chance of topping the group however Durham are only playing for pride.
The Bowls Durham competitions are reaching the latter stages with plenty of local interest. The men’s singles quarter finals took place at Stockton West End with five past winners in the last eight, it was a mixed night for Silksworth Pumas. Scott Baker beat Dairy Lanes John Lane with the last bowl 21-20, current holder Hartlepool Old Boys Mark Higgins beat the Pumas David Bolt in another 21-20 thriller this after trailing 20-14. The 2008 winner Roker Marine’s Peter Thomson beat the 2017 champion Elm Tree’s David Fenwick 21-15, the remaining tie was an all Darlington RA affair, record holding Andrew Kirtland’s hopes of a 7th title were dashed by Carl Carson 21-17.
The fours quarter finals on a very poor looking Silksworth green saw five local squads still running, The host club’s James Sneller ended Barnes Park’s Frankie Froud’s run 27-19 although Froud will rue dropping fourteen shots in three ends. Sneller will face club mate David Bolt in the semi finals after Bolt ground out a 26-9 win over Dairy Lane’s Ian Whorlton. Blackhall’s Paul Hartley beat Spennymoor’s Louis Greathead 18-3 and will tackle Dairy Lane’s Dale Oram for a place at Leamington after Oram eased past Darlington South Parks Simon Brodie 26-9.
In the women’s County singles the Silkworth Pumas Charlotte Williams will face Darlington Woodland’s Jane Pattison in the semi final at Consett Park. The host club have already secured an all Consett final in the pairs as Teresa Pearson will take on Sue Ramage.
In the latest round of Earl Cup fixtures there was a fifth straight win for leaders Barnes Park as they beat bottom of the table Sunderland 5-1. Barnes have a four point lead over Houghton Dairy Lane A, the latter won 5-1 at New Herrington. Dairy Lane B beat Pemberton 6-0 and Roker Marine beat North Biddick 6-0 who are now 14 points off safety. Usworth’s 6-0 win over Houghton Town cements second place in Division two behind leaders Hetton Workmen. Seaham Town and Whitburn are still chasing the top two as both recorded 5-1 wins. Ryhope ended a eight game losing streak beating Hylton Colliery Welfare 5-1.
There are only two unbeaten records across all the leagues and both top the Swan Cup. In Division One holders Dairy Lane notched win number eight beating North Biddick 5-1, second placed Silksworth Pumas lost 5-1 at New Herrington and Roker Marine moved up to third beating Seaham Town 5-1. Barnes Park conceded the game against Hylton Colliery Welfare as they were unable to field a team due to a clash with the England World Cup game. At last year’s AGM clubs voted in a no cancellation rule apart from weather related.
The other unbeaten record is at the top of Division Two as Simonside have also won eight on the trot, the leaders go to Whitburn this week with a nine point lead over Hetton Workmen who lost 4-2 at Usworth. Pemberton’s promotion hopes took a hit losing 6-0 at Whitburn.
Round 8 in the Harold Howey saw holders Barnes Park take advantage of leaders New Herrington B on a bye as they beat Hylton Colliery Welfare 4-0 to go top. The form team at the minute is North Biddick A who notched a fifth consecutive win beating Whitburn B 4-0 to climb up to third. Pemberton A had a cracking 4-0 win over Dairy Lane A to eased any relegation worries.
In Division Two the miners local derby saw Silksworth Pumas beat Ryhope 3-1 to go top by a point. Thompson Park beat Sunderland B 3-1 and are just a point behind the leaders in third. Roker Park beat Sunderland A 3-1 to move up to fifth.
Story Bowl holders Seaham Town won the top of the table battle at Thompson Park 5½-1½ to open up a 12½ point lead at the top. Hylton Colliery Welfare beat Houghton Town 7-0.
With only one scheduled week left in the Grindon League Dairy Lane marched to the top beating North Biddick 5-0, holders Silksworth Pumas won 5-0 at New Herrington and are only 2½ points behind the leaders with a game in hand. To add to the mix the top two go head to head in the final round of games next Friday. Pemberton’s 3½- 1½ win at Hylton Colliery Welfare keeps them in the hunt as they also have a game in of the leaders.
There was some sad news for the local bowls scene, former outdoor women’s County President Alma Weightman sadly passed away. Alma played an active role within the SWBA as treasurer for many years and was a key figure when the women’s bowls in Sunderland was at its peak during the 80’s. Alma was a good player in her own right and was one of the games popular figures.