This week saw the final round of matches to decide the destination of the Earl Cup title, leaders Houghton Dairy Lane A needing only a half point from the local derby against the Dairy Lane B team ran out 5½-½ winners to leap frog Barnes Park and take top spot. Dairy Lane first lifted the Earl Cup in 1983 and this is clubs tenth success, not only that but they join an elite band of clubs to complete the Earl & Swan Cup double of which this will be Dairy Lanes third league double. Holders Silksworth Pumas ended their season off with a 5½-½ win over Pemberton, New Herrington beat Roker Marine 5-1. The battle to avoid bottom saw Sunderland climb off the foot of the table beating North Biddick 5½-½, both teams however drop down into Division 2.
Final Table Earl Cup D1 – Houghton DL A 73, Barnes Park 68, Silksworth Pumas 68½, Roker Marine 48, Pemberton 47½, Houghton DL B 44½, New Herrington 44, Sunderland 22, North Biddick 18½.
With Hetton Workmen already promoted as champions the remaining promotion place was up for grabs. Seaham Town’s 4-2 win over Thompson Park coupled with Usworth losing 5-1 to Whitburn sealed promotion for the Seaham lad’s. Hylton Colliery beat Washington 5-1 and bottom of the table South Hylton ended the season on a high as they beat Ryhope 5-1 which bought an end to a eight game losing streak.
Final Table Earl Cup D2 –Hetton Workmen 90, Seaham Town 71½, Usworth 65, Houghton Town 59, Thompson Park 53½, Whitburn 50½, Hylton CW 47½, Ryhope 38, Washington 34½, South Hylton 24½
The only remaining league to come to a conclusion is the Swan Cup Division 2. Simonside are already champions however the second promotion spot is up for grabs with three teams vying for the place. Second placed Usworth go to Hetton Workmen knowing a 6-0 win will get them over the line, a Hetton Workmen win and a defeat for fourth placed Pemberton will get Hetton over the line although Hetton do have a game still to rearrange before the cut off date of 8 September.
The future of the Grindon League is still up for debate, out of the current eight teams half have indicated they will not be entering next season. As it stands the league will run on four teams, the format looks like three rinks of three bowl triples, if any of the Sunderland & District clubs are interested in entering to bolster the numbers just drop the S&D secretary a line.
The Bowls England (BE) National Championships at Leamington Spa have proved to be one of Bowls Durham’s most successful for a few years. Two national champions, two losing finalists and seven semi finalists is the best run the county has had for a while. The last local interest came to an end in the Mixed Pairs as the Silksworth Pumas duo of Sophie Wood and David Bolt lost their quarter final 14-11 against Gloucestershire’s Colin Dixon.
There was some good news for the north east in the BE Double Fours as Northumberland based Gosforth took the national title beating Worcester A 39-28 in the final. They did however miss out in the Top Club as they lost in the quarter finals 5-0 to Leicestershire based Kingscroft.
The men’s Middleton Cup title went to Lincolnshire, in the final they beat Buckinghamshire 104-84. The women’s John’s Trophy went to Leicestershire for the first time, in the final Leicestershire beat Surrey 101-92.
The later stages of the Great British Bowls Pairs and Triples take place at Retford, Nottingham this weekend. The two days are being live stream via the Wrongbias Facebook and Youtube platforms.
There is no peace for the bowling fraternity as the indoor season at Houghton gets underway on Saturday. Membership fee’s must be paid before playing in any of the leagues. There are a couple of league format changes, the Friday 6.30pm is now double pairs, the Thursday 6.30pm Fours is now two sets of seven ends, the Sunday 10am is now an Australian Pairs.
The EIBA have announced a new sponsor, it is the London based gold & precious metal dealer Bullion House over a two year agreement.
The team draws for the EIBA national are out, in the men’s Denny Cup Houghton face Redcar Borough Park while the South Shields Vipers tackle Darlington. The other ties are – Hartlepool v Stanley, Gateshead v Great Aycliffe, Cumbria v West Denton, Durham v The Parks.
In the women’s Yetton Trophy Houghton face Great Aycliffe and The Vipers have a tough opener against holders Cumbria. The rest of the local draw is as follows -: Hartlepool v Redcar Borough Park, Durham v West Denton, The Parks v Gateshead.
Durham County will lock horns with Cumbria again in the men’s Liberty Trophy, while in the women’s Atherley Trophy Durham will face Yorkshire.
The EIBA have once again been running it’s Summer Nationals and the final stages take place at Melton Mowbray later in September. In the singles local hopes are with the Vipers Paul Hartley who will play Riverain’s Alex Walton in the last eight. Hartley teams up with Gary Farquhar and David Bolt in the Triples where Bromsgrove’s Simon Totten blocks a place into the semi finals. Hartlepool’s Conrad Morrison fly’s the flag in the pairs and takes on Horsham’s Andrew Simmons in the quarter finals.