There has been plenty of local interest in the last sixteen of the various Bowls Durham county championships.
In the triples Paul Baker came out on top in an all Silksworth Puma clash against Ian Riches 18-15 and will face Seaham Town’s Bryan Henderson in the last eight. The latter had a cracking 18-10 win at Darlington RA against Tony Macey.
There was disappointment for Barnes Park’s Bryan Sanderson as a narrow 18-16 loss at Blackhall to Paul Hartley ended his hopes. The defending county champion is still running, Darlington RA’s Barry Hopkins eased to a 24-8 win at Pelton Fell against Jim Hutchinson.
Despite the poor weather it was a goodnight in the fours for the two Silksworth Puma squads. James Sneller ended the defending champion Darlington RA’s Barry Hopkins title defence with a 20-14 away win, while David Bolt ground out a 17-13 home win over another RA quartet this time skipped by Tony Macey. Usworth’s Steven Copeland missed out on home advantage losing 22-4 to Pelton Fell’s Jim Hutchinson as did Seaham Town’s Mark Higgins, in a thriller Higgins lost 14-13 against Dunston’s Brett Arkley.
The other local squad Dairy Lane’s Dan Todner’s tie against Dunston’s Mal Johnston was cancelled due to the Dairy Lane surface being unsafe. In the last eight Sneller hosts Spennymoor’s Matthew Gleeson while Bolt heads to Dunston to face Arkley.
It was a tough night in the pairs for our local hopes, defending champions Silksworth Pumas David Bolt lost at home 15-14 to Dunston’s Kevin King. Both Dairy Lane squads went out, Dale Oram lost at home to Elm Tree’s David Fenwick 19-11 and Mal Peach lost 17-10 at Dipton against Michael English.
The only local pair left in is Seaham Town’s Bryan Henderson who sneaked home 15-14 at Darlington RA against Mark Ralphs, Henderson faces a trip to Dunston against Mal Johnston in the last eight.
In the two bowl only Dairy Lane’s Gary McPheators survived the last sixteen after receiving a walk over. Barnes Park’s Bryan Sanderson lost a thriller at Dunston 15-14 to Alex Brydon, Usworth’s Brian Poulter lost 14-6 at RA to David Newham and Diary Lane’s Alan Hinds also lost at RA 17-12 against Barry Hopkins.
On Monday at Pelton Fell Dairy Lane’s Susan Forster, Glynis Morgan and Joan Rodgerson will be attempting to land a fourth county triples title, in the morning semi final they face Darlington Woodland’s Sam Pegg. If successful it would be Rodgerson’s fifth success with the first coming in 1982.
Following round five in the Earl Cup 4×4 there is still only half a point separating the top two, leaders Dairy Lane hit Barnes Park for a ton in a 7-0 home win while the Pumas were one short of hitting a ton at Whitburn in another 7-0 win, the other game saw Roker Marine beat Usworth 5-2.
In the 3×4 league Hetton Workmen’s made it five out of five with a 6-0 win over South Hylton. New Herrington’s 6-0 at Ryhope moves them up to second above holders Seaham Town who lost 5-1 at North Biddick. Houghton Town notched back to back wins, this time beating Thompson Park 5½-1½ plus there were wins for Pemberton and Washington.
The lure of watching the England football team prcaused two produced contrasting results in the Swan Cup, leaders Silksworth lost their unbeaten tag losing 7-0 at Barnes Park while Houghton Dairy Lane leap frogged them to go top after Thompson Park conceded as a suitable start for both parties could not be found. Holders Roker Marine hit Usworth for a ton in an early start 6-1 away win.
In the Swan 3×4 league it was a goodnight for leaders Seaham Town who were on a bye as second placed North Biddick lost 5-1 at a resurgent Houghton Town. Hetton Workmen got back to winning ways 5-1 at Hylton Colliery and Pemberton move up to third after a 5 -1 win over Washington.
In the Harold Howey the top two went head to head, leaders Hetton Workmen were hampered playing a man short and eventually lost 3-1 at new leaders and defending champions Barnes Park B. It was a good day for the two Dairy Lane squads, the A team won 4-0 at Marine A while the B team beat bottom of the table Ryhope 4-0. Roker Park beat Thompson Park 4-0 and there were 3-1 wins for Silksworth Pumas and Hylton Colliery B.
In division two leaders Seaham Town march on, a 3-1 win at South Hetton maintains a three point lead over Washington A who also won 3-1 this time against Barnes Park A. South Hylton and Hylton Colliery A both recorded 4-0 wins.
Seaham Town are well on course to retain the Storey Bowl, a 6-1 win at Hylton Colliery has opened up a 9½ point lead at the top, Hetton Workmen suffered a double blow, in a rearranged game they lost 6-1 at New Herrington and then lost a one shot thriller at Roker Park.
The Durham County Middleton Cup squad was due to be in action against Lancashire at York RI today. However due to a string of the dreaded co-vid NHS app pings the Lancastrians have had to concede the tie. Durham will now face the winner of the Northumberland v Cumbria clash at Dairy Lane today (2pm start).
The county Alsop squad made a winning start to their title defence beating Yorkshire 16-6 at Darlington Woodlands, they head to Gosforth today to face Northumberland.
The cancelled women’s Walker Cup against Northumberland takes place at Dairy Lane tomorrow (1.30pm).
In the Bowls England champion of champions Seaham Town’s Bryan Henderson lost a 21-20 thriller away against Jarrow’s Alan Lawton. In the women’s over 55 singles Dairy Lane’s Norma Stephenson’s run came to an end losing 21-13 against the newly crowned Durham county singles champion Pelton Fell’s Joan Brown.
In the over 55 pairs former national champions Glynis Morgan and Joan Rodgerson march on into the area final after beating Jarrow West End’s Jean Clift 20-14. Dairy Lane’s Susan Forster & Mal Peach held their nerve in the mixed pairs beating Stockton’s Teresa Pearson 13-12, the win sets up a clash with the Puma’s Dani Martinson and Jaxon McKenna.