It was a cracking weekend for both the Durham County Middleton Cup and John’s Trophy squads as both won their opening group games. In the men’s Middleton Cup tie against Yorkshire played at Walkington Durham came away with an impressive 20-2 win. The pick of the winning rinks was the 35-5 win by the all Silksworth Pumas rink of Jaxon McKenna, Neal Ridley, John Leeman and David Bolt. In the other group game Northumberland beat Lancashire 16-6, next up for Durham is Cumbria at Dairy Lane on Saturday.
In the women’s Walker Cup it was another successful day for Durham as they beat Cumbria at Pelton Fell 18-4. The pick of the Durham rinks were Consett Park’s Teresa Pearson running out a 28-11 winner which included Dairy Lane’s Glynis Morgan at two. Dairy Lane’s Norma Stephenson also made a winning start 24-15 with club mate Maureen Hall at lead. Sunderland’s Lorraine Breheny narrowly lost 17-15, the other game saw Yorkshire beat Northumberland 16-6, Durham tackle Yorkshire next in two weeks time at Darlington Woodlands.
It was all change at the top of the Swan Cup, leaders Barnes Park lost 5-1 at bottom of the table Usworth which left the door ajar for Dairy Lane to go top, a 5-1 home win over holders Silksworth Pumas leaves the Pumas down in sixth. New Herrington climb up the table continues with a 5-1 win at Roker Marine.
In division two the battle of the top two saw North Biddick come out on top against Thompson Park 5-1, Houghton Town broke their duck with a 5-1 win over Hylton Colliery while Pemberton won 5-1 at South Hylton.
Despite the weather all the Howey division one fixtures got played, Dairy Lane B maintained their unbeaten start with a 4-0 win over Whitburn which opens up a 3½ point lead at the top. New Herrington B’s 4-0 home win over Hylton Colliery moves them up to second and Hetton Workmen’s narrow 3-1 win at Marine A see’s them climb to third. Holders Barnes Park are the only other unbeaten team, a 3-1 win over Dairy A moves them up to sixth having played a game less than the top five. North Biddick’s 3-1 win over New Herrington lifted them off the bottom and sent the latter to the foot of the table.
Division two wasn’t so lucky with the weather as only two games were played, Sunderland B’s 4-0 win at Pemberton B moved them top of the table, the only other game played saw Seaham Town B beat Chester le Street 3-1. Having only just returned to the league the Silksworth Pumas have called time on their stay again, illness and holidays have took their toil therefore both games that they played will be void and clubs due to play them will have a bye, club secretaries have been informed.
The Storey Bowl leaders Seaham Town extended their lead at the top with a 5½-1½ win at Hylton Colliery. Thompson Park and New Herrington played out a 3½-3½ draw while the Houghton Town and Hetton Workmen’s game was washed out.
Week eight of the Earl Cup was affected by the rain with only three games played, leaders Silksworth Puma’s got back to winning ways with a 5-1 win over Sunderland, Roker Marine are 3½ points adrift after a 5-1 win over Barnes Park, the only other game saw Dairy Lane B move up to third with a 4-2 home win over New Herrington.
Silver Jacks Results – B Poulter (Us) 12-14 J Sneller (SP), P Robson (Pem) 20-6 D Wright (ST), P Rodgerson (Pem) 12-21 K Oliver (Wh), J Inch (HDL) 21-15 I Teasdale (TP), A Whitaker (TP) 11-24 R Patterson (NB)
David Morgan Mixed Pairs – CJ Price (NB) 15-24 J Hore (Su), G Wallace (NH) 17-16 J Hume (HT), C McGuinness (Wh) 22-9 A Middleton (RM), P King (NH bt M Lewis (RM), G Wallace snr (NH) 11-14 P Charleton (SH), J Mckenna (SP) bt P Holiday (Su), D Armstrong (HDL) 17-20 RA Bell (RM)
Champion Of Champions – R Johnson (NB) 21-14 S Hume (HT), A Robson (Pem) 16-21 Pat Thomson (RM), M Wright (BP) 15-21 S Copeland (Us)
3-2-1 Triples – Washington 181-251 Seaham Town, Barnes Park 177-113 North Biddick
The latest round in the Bowls England Top Club saw more Stockton West End heartache for Houghton Dairy Lane, following the one shot loss in the double fours the Dairy Lane outfit lost 3-2. Silksworth ground out a 3-2 win at Consett Park to set up a clash with Blackhall, the latter won 3-2 at Lyndhurst.
The next round of the BE Double Fours takes place on Sunday, Roker Marine host Dairy Lane B and Silksworth Pumas travel to Blackhall.
In the Over 60 singles Silksworth Puma’s Malcolm Peach beat Jarrow’s Malcolm Johnston 21-5 and will head to Lyndhurst next to face Kevin Bone. New Herrington’s Colin Watson ground out a 21-18 win at Jarrow against Ian Smith which sets up a home tie against Lyndhurst’s Garry Watson. Barnes Park’s Bryan Sanderson had a smashing 21-11 win at Silksworth and will face Dunston’s Alan Jobling or Usworth’s Brian Poulter. Marine’s Richie Mckie beat Stockton West End’s Richard Serginson 21-15 and will host Spennymoor’s Malcolm Robinson next.
Dairy Lane’s Ron Dixon beat Lyndhurst’s Paul Langley 22-19 in the Over 60’s Pairs, Dixon will have home advantage against Silksworth Pumas John Leeman next, the latter beat Spennymoor’s Barry Attwood 16-13. New Herrington’s Michael White lost at home to Hunden’s Stuart Clarke 21-13 while Silksworth’s Jon Bennett eased past Jarrow’s Geoff Smith.
There was some good news for two of the region’s young guns, Silksworth Puma’s Layton Sykes and Darlington Woodlands Sophie Wood (main picture) have both been selected for a Under 18 international trial. This is in stark contrast to the full England team that has recently been announced, only Cumbria’s Kevin Harrison has been included from the Northern Counties while there are none in the women’s squad which once again raises the north-south divide debate.