The World Bowls Tour (WBT) first event of the season the Scottish International Open is taking place at West Lothian. To date it has been a good opening round for the top sixteen seeds with only one seed falling at the first hurdle. Last year’s semi finalist and Commonwealth Games gold medallist England’s Sam Tolchard made a surprise exit to the host clubs Richard Mark 2-0 on a tie break despite winning the first set 14-2. Locally the Vipers Paul Hartley was looking to try and break into the top sixteen but had to face fifth seed Nicky Brett in the first round. The pair met at the UK Open in March where Brett came out on top and sadly it was a case of déjà vu for Hartley. The Viper started the first set well and opened up a 5-2 lead after five of the nine end set, two ends later Brett levelled things off at 5-5 but Hartley responded with a cracking double to lead 7-5. On the final end of the set Brett held shot and with the final bowl of the set, for all the world it looked it looked short and under the line however it got a fine feather off one of Hartley’s bowls and agonisingly for Hartley fell in for two to half the set 7-7.
The second set was a similar tale as Hartley won the first four ends albeit all singles to lead 4-0 only to drop a three on the next to see his lead cut to 4-3. Again Hartley responded with a single to lead 5-3 but then lost ends seven and crucially a double on end eight to trial 6-5. The scene was set for a one end shot out, it was actually one of the slackest ends of the game with nothing within two feet but tight for shot, with the final bowl of the game Hartley tried to draw but agonisingly dropped short on one of Brett’s bowls. An umpire came on the decide the shot and sadly for Hartley it went against him losing the second set 7-5. Although this will be a tough loss for Hartley to take on the bright side the five ranking points has yet again given the lad a chance to break into the top sixteen, with another at least another five to come at the World’s in January this has to be the lads best chance to finally make the break through.
At the time of print the Semi Final draw was – A Marshall v J Walker, M Dawes v S Anderson
The Vipers opened up their Top Club campaign with a 10-6 (95-52) win at Durham. Chris McGready won the men’s Two Bowl singles 21-9 while Charlotte Williams narrowly lost 21-18. There were comfortable wins in the mixed pairs and mixed triples and a narrow loss in the mixed fours. The Vipers will play Gateshead next.
The Durham County ladies beat Yorkshire at York in the first round of the Atherley Trophy, across the green it was an even split however Durham ran out 117-100 winners. In the next round Durham will face Lincolnshire.
Durham’s Liberty Cup opponents in the new year will be Lincolnshire, the latter eased past Yorkshire 114-56, Durham received a bye after Cumbria blinked first and conceded the tie.
It is another busy weekend for our two local teams as the Denny Cup & Plate takes place on Saturday. In the Denny Cup the Vipers will fancy their chances against Houghton’s conquerors Redcar Borough.
Vipers line as follows – D Paterson, J Bennett, J McKenna, D Bolt, P Hart, R Henson, C Fraser, J Minto, L Sykes, C McGready, B Hopkins, P Hartley, D Sykes, P Timney, J Sneller, G Farquhar
Other ties – The Parks v Cumbria, Hartlepool v Stanley, Gateshead v Great Aycliffe,
In the Denny Plate Houghton will need a performance to get past winners Darlington also on Saturday (10am). Houghton line up – C Blake, G Loadman, D Wright, D Todner, W Roberts, P Robinson, I Whorlton, M Baker, C Milburn, M Wright, P Brickle, F Froud, F Fletcher, I Armstrong, B Sanderson, P Thomson.
The ladies Yetton Trophy will be looking avenge last years 83-60 loss at the same stage to Cumbria as they go head to head again. Houghton ladies take on Hartlepool in the Yetton Plate on Saturday 10am.
On Sunday the Vipers are in mixed Egham Trophy action as they face Darlington, the winners will face Durham or Cumbria. The Vipers line up -: C Williams, V Bennett, J McKenna, G Farquhar, N Crow, A Upsall, C Fraser, J Minto, M Charles, M Tindale, D Paterson, D Bolt, JS Tallack, K Paterson, C McGready, P Hartley.
The England Para trial team has been confirmed, locally the Vipers Steve Angus and Gateshead’s Graeme Robinson have made the first cut. The trial takes place at Erewash on Saturday 7 November.
In the Area 1 national singles Houghton’s Peter Brickle beat Gateshead’s Scott Noble 21-11 and will host the Vipers Alan Lawton, the latter beat West Denton’s Luke Jameson 21-17. The Vipers Chris McGready progressed with a 21-13 win over Houghton’s Neil Reid.
The Houghton pair of Colin Milburn and Colin Watson had a cracking 18-9 win over Gateshead’s Alan Theobold and Kevin Bone, the win sets up a home clash with The Parks Jonny Morgan. Another Houghton pair made progress, John Lane and Ian Armstrong notched a 20-9 win at Durham against David Neil.
Outdoor clubs are reminded the Sunderland & District league enrolments forms need to be returned by 10 November, the competition forms to be returned by 31 January 2027.