The remaining men’s County Semi Finals have been concluded with several local success stories. In the Pairs Silksworth Pumas defending champions Jaxon McKenna and David Bolt secured a final spot with a 27-13 win over club mates Josh Halcrow and James Sneller. There were mixed emotions for the Dairy Lane club as the possibility of an all Dairy Lane final was scuppered. Lee Harrison, Jimmy McAdoo and Dale Oram booked there place with a 21-4 win over Silksworth Puma’s Paul Baker. Club mates Bob Stewart, Gary Vaughan and Jeff Wilson couldn’t replicate the success as they were beaten 12-9 by Dunston’s Tom Pope.
In the Two Bowl Singles Usworth’s Brian Poulter nearly let his semi final slip away, leading 14-9 with three ends left the Usworth star lost the remaining ends and ended up going into an extra end against Eldon Grove’s Robin Gibbins. A faux par by the Eldon Grove lad saw him lose the jack on the extra end but still held shot with Poulter’s final bowl to come. The Usworth lad held his nerve to draw within a couple of feet and secure another county final place.
In the Under 25 singles Silksworth Pumas Layton Sykes ended holder Darlington RA’s title defence in emphatic style 21-4, the two then teamed up in the Under 25’s Pairs and managed to ground out a nervy 22-17 win.
The County Finals take place on Saturday & Sunday at Houghton Dairy Lane with eleven local hopes looking to land a county title.
Saturday 26 July
Girls Junior Pairs – C Williams (Silksworth Pumas) v S Wood (Darlington Woodlands) 10am
Men’s Two Bowl Singles – D Newman (Darlington RA) v B Poulter (Usworth) 11am
Women’s Two Bowl Singles – C Michie (Darlington SP) v J Pattison (Darlington Woodlands) 11am
Women’s Senior Fours – J Mansfield (Blackhall Bandits) v T Macey (Darlington RA) 2pm
Men’s Champion Of Champions – T McEwan (Elm Tree) v S Slaughter (Eldon Grove) 2pm
Boys Junior Pairs – L Brodie (Darlington SP) v L Sykes (Silksworth Pumas) 2pm
Girls Junior Singles – S Wood (Darlington Woodlands) v C Williams (Silksworth Pumas) 2pm
Women’s Senior Fours – J Pattison (Darlington Woodlands) v C Michie (Darlington SP) 2pm
Sunday 27 July
Men’s Triples – A Humphries (Dunston) v D Oram (Houghton DL) 10am
Men’s Fours – P Hartley (Blackhall Bandits) v D Bolt (Silksworth Pumas) 10am
Women’s Triples – A Baggett (White-le-Head) v J Pattison (Darlington Woodlands) 10am
Women’s Fours – T Fairless (Darlington Woodlands) v N Stephenson (Houghton DL) 10am
TBC – Men’s Singles – M Higgins (Seaham Town) v I Smith (Jarrow West End) 2pm
Men’s Pairs – D Bolt (Silksworth Pumas) v A Kirtland (Darlington RA) 2pm
Boys Junior Singles – L Sykes (Silksworth Pumas) v A Rogan (Jarrow West End) 2pm
Women’s Singles – C Wade (Darlington Woodlands) v T Fairless (Darlington Woodlands) 2pm
Women’s Pairs – B Ledger (Sunderland) v C Williams (Silksworth Pumas) 2pm
The men’s final Alsop Trophy game was cancelled at the weekend due to weather issues, the other game saw Yorkshire rack up a 22-0 win over Cumbria at Silloith to secure the Alsop Trophy.
In the final round of women’s Northern Trophy games Durham ended their campaign with a 20 shot loss at Thirsk against Yorkshire. That result secures the title for Yorkshire. Durham did well to finish with a 3-3 record after losing the first two games.
Darlington Woodland young gun Sophie Wood has been on England Under 18 duty in the British Bowls U18 Series at Ayr. England were crowned champions with six wins from six, Wood played in six disciplines winning on five.
Silksworth Pumas are still in pole position to defend their Earl Cup title, a 5-1 win over bottom of the table Seaham Town keeps an eight point lead at the top. Barnes Park moved into second with a 4½-1½ win over Usworth. Marine lost 5-1 at home to Dairy Lane A and Dairy Lane B won 5-1 against Sunderland.
Division Two leaders North Biddick lost 5-1 at home to Hylton Colliery, there were wins for Pemberton, Thompson Park and Whitburn, meanwhile Hetton and South Hylton played out a draw.
Round eleven in the Swan Cup saw the top three all win, leaders New Herrington won 5-1 at Hetton Workmen and have a three point lead over Dairy Lane who won 5-1 at Roker Marine. Third placed Barnes Park returned to winning ways with a 6-0 win at Seaham Town. At the foot of the table Usworth have given themselves a chance in the fight against the drop, a cracking 4½-1½ win over Silksworth Pumas drags both Marine and Hetton Workmen back to them.
Division Two leaders North Biddick are still top of the pack after a 6-0 win over Houghton Town, second placed Pemberton won 4-2 at Thompson Park and South Hylton beat Washington 4½-1½.
There are familiar leaders in the Howey, with last week’s leaders Dairy Lane B losing their unbeaten record 4-0 at North Biddick this allowed Barnes Park to go top after South Hylton conceded there game 4-0. The chasing pack of Dairy Lane A, Marine A and Hetton Workmen all won. At the foot of the table Marine B look in trouble after a ninth consecutive loss, the other place looks to be between Hylton Colliery, Whitburn B and South Hylton.
With Division Two leaders Sunderland B on a bye it gave an opportunity for the chasing pack to make up ground. There are new leaders after Washington B’s 3½-½ win over Chester le Street, Pemberton A’s 3-1 win over Pemberton B moves them to within 1½ points of the leaders and with a game in hand.
The only Storey Bowl game played saw Hetton Workmen’s beat Thompson Park 5½-1½.
The Grindon League leaders Usworth suffered a 3½-1½ loss at Pemberton, the latter are only a point adrift and have a game in hand. New Herrington’s title hopes took a hit as they lost 4-1 at North Biddick.