There was disappointment for Houghton as they were beaten in the County Inter Club play off final 4-1 at Great Aycliffe by holders Darlington. This was Houghton’s third final appearance and despite a spirited performance it was to be a third loss. The only Houghton winning rink was Gary Loadman, Ray Potts, Peter Brickle and Frankie Froud who beat Tony Macey 20-18. Billy Roberts, Ian Armstrong, Mal Baker and David Wright raced into an 11-1 lead but a 17-4 second half return saw Darlington’s Andrew Henderson turn it around to get home 18-15. David Armstrong’s rink of Freddie Fletcher, John Webster and Ian Whorlton actually won more ends against Mark Jones, however to many dropped counts left them 26-12 down. It was the same case for the remaining rink of Chris Blake, Paul Bennett, Richie Mckie and Colin Watson. They never revered from an early 17-2 deficit and despite winning nine of the eighteen ends they were beaten 30-15 by Andrew Kirtland. Darlington therefore retained their title while Houghton had to settle for being presented with the Northern section winner’s trophy.
The newly introduced County Seniors Inter club knock out first round ties saw wins for both Houghton squads and the South Shield’s Vipers. Houghton Sancroft travelled to Ferryhill and looked in trouble early doors with the hosts leading by sixteen overall. Gary Loadman, Mal Baker, Peter Brickle and Frankie Froud recovered from a 10-1 deficit against F Dixon to win 19-13. Colin Milburn, Michael Galley, Michael Wright and Colin Watson dropped an early six to trail 12-5 against H Murray. The Houghton lads went on a run winning seven of the last eight ends to record a 19-13 win. The remaining rink of Freddie Fletcher, John Webster, Ian Whorlton and David Wright had another battle with Colin Larcombe MBE, a late four put Wright back on level terms only to drop a single on the last end to finish 11-10 down. Sancroft will host Darlington B in the quarter finals.
Houghton Gilpin made home advantage count as they made progress beating The Parks 5-0. Phil Saunders, Les Todd and Dave Hockaday and Bob Johnson raced into a 16-0 lead after only seven ends against F Woodhouse. The visitors made a better fist of the rest of the game but Johnson still ran out a 20-10 winner. Dave Surtees, Ronnie Wilson, G Stephenson and David Robson were always in the lead and eventually ground out a 16-10 win over S Graham. The clean sweep was completed by Peter Hicks, P Holliday, Paul Bennett and Howard Smith thanks to a last end single 11-10 win over G Robson. The Gilpin lads have a tough trip next as they head to the Division 1 champions Stanley in the last eight.
The South Shield’s Vipers completed a local treble as they had a cracking 4-1 win away at Darlington A, the win sets up a quarter final home tie against Shildon.
Q/Final Draw – Vipers v Shildon, Sancroft v Darlington B, Hartlepool B or Durham A v Hartlepool A, Stanley v Gilpin.
The EIBA national finals at Nottingham get underway next week with the fours opening the twenty one days of action. Locally the Vipers quartet of Josh Minto, Gary Farquhar, Paul Hartley and David Bolt will face Church Gresley’s Martyn Allsopp in the last sixteen. In the women’s fours Hartlepool’s Samantha Richardson, Amica Fordy, Bev Lynch and Dani Martinson tackle Chawton Park’s Katy Fyfield also in the last sixteen.
The Vipers Stevie Angus having already qualified in the Para Singles has made it a double by qualifying in the pairs as well. Partnering Wellingborugh’s Christopher Gray (pictured) the duo battled through qualification at Church Gresley. In the semi finals at Nottingham the lads will face Colchester’s David Fisher. In the singles semi final Angus will take on Chawton Park’s Danny Brown.
The Durham Seniors also head to Nottingham for the final of the County O60’s final against Essex. Durham have yet to win the title and were beaten in their only other final appearance.
Durham line up – A Hind (Hartlepool), M Peach, J Leeman, D Oram (all the Vipers), B Poulter (Gateshead), M Lusk (Stanley), A Jobling (Gateshead), B Houghton (Stanley), J Hutchinson (Stanley), A Bridgwater (Hartlepool), M Barkess, K Minnis (both Stanley), P Horsley (Hartlepool), G Reed (Aycliffe), A Macey, M Jones (Darlington), D Quickmire, R Fairhurst, M Robinson (all Aycliffe), J Ainger (Hartlepool), S Hanlon (Hartlepool), P Paterson (Vipers), J Lynch (Darlington), S Slaughter (Hartlepool)
The club finals at Shields have been taking place, Paul Hartley set a new record by winning all four men’s finals. With the Fours & Triples already in the bag Hartley landed the singles with a 21-11 win over David Bolt. Hartley completed the clean sweep alongside Josh Minto in the pairs with a 16-14 win over Gary Farquhar and Bolt.
The County Champion of Champions pair’s title went to the Great Aycliffe duo of Peter Barion & Grant Parker. In the final played at Ferryhill they beat defending champions Hartlepool’s Michael Laydon & Mark Higgins 18-10.
The Durham Under 25’s run in the U25 Double fours came to an end in the last eight against Gloucestershire. Hartlepool’s Conrad Morrison’s quartet won 19-15 however Darlington’s Naill Thompson went down 21-13 leaving Durham on the wrong end of a 36-32 score line.
As the indoor season is slowly coming to an end thoughts slowly switch to the outdoor scene, sadly there is already a casualty in the Harold Howey Division 2 as Whitburn A have dropped out. Teams due to play them will now have a bye. Clubs are reminded payment of Sunderland & District fee’s need to be paid by 1 April. The council based greens can open from 13 April with the first leagues getting underway on 4 May. Club secretaries should have received the various knock out competition draws and the Bowls Durham Championship draws are now on the county website. One county championship rule change is that the home team picks the rink.