In the Over 60’s fours the Houghton quartet of Michael Wright, Bryan Sanderson, Colin Watson and Frankie Froud were left wondering what might have been. In the area final played at West Denton they faced Cumbria’s Alan Glendinning, in a tight affair the Cumbrian’s edged ahead 9-6 at the half way mark. The decisive moment came on end ten as the Houghton trio dropped a seven, disappointingly for the Houghton quartet the Cumbrian’s just drew them in. Despite sticking to the task that end was always going to be difficult to overcome especially the way Glendinning was playing and so it proved as it finished 22-11.
There was more good news for the Vipers as they had success in another two Area Finals. In the pairs played at Gateshead David Sykes and Gary Farquhar ground out a 18-11 win over Cumbria’s Paul Wallace and John Baird to secure a place at Nottingham. In the last sixteen it will be either Clarrie Dunbar’s Duncan McGovern or Westlecot’s Scott Edwards next for the Vipers duo.
A second success came in the mystifying Open Pairs area final, Paul Hartley and David Bolt got over the line in straight sets against Durham’s Nigel Sparks 14-1, 11-5. In the last sixteen Falaise’s Stuart Holland will be next on the radar.
The Two Bowl area final line up has been confirmed, the Vipers Paul Hartley will face Cumbria’s Stu Irwin, the latter beat Gateshead’s Alex Bryden 21-9. Hartley will also feature in the Over 50 Triples area final, alongside Mal Peach & John Leeman they will face Cumbria’s Paul Barlow, Kenny Johnstone and Stephen Farish.
In the Over 60’s double fours Hartlepool A booked a semi final place after beating Nottingham A 38-25. Steve Slaughter beat J Midren 20-18 and John Ainger beat M Lee 18-7. The win sets up a tie against County Arts at Nottingham in April.
The latter stages of the national Mixed Pairs and Mixed Fours take place at Bristol at the weekend. In the pairs the Vipers duo of Jackie Stewart Tallack and David Bolt will face Spalding’s Annie Dunham and Dominic McVittie in the last sixteen. In the Mixed Fours having knocked out the defending champions in an early area round the Vipers quartet of Jackie Stewart Tallack, Maureen Charles, Jaxon McKenna and Paul Hartley will tackle Barwell’s Chris Moore also in there last sixteen opener.
Following England’s U25 women’s Home International series success at Aberdeen it was the turn of the England men’s U25’s to replicate the feat this time at Northampton. Scotland were hunting for an unprecedented five in a row plus both England & Scotland were locked at eleven series wins. Both countries had comfortable opening wins against Wales and Ireland respectively. The next round of games saw what is usually the series decider as England & Scotland locked horns. For three quarters of the game England had a narrow lead, it was on the seventeenth end across the board which decided the title as England pulled away with a 14-2 return to lead 77-60. Despite a late spirited Scottish fight back England were in the box seat and got home 85-77. In the final game Ireland never looked like springing a surprise as England ran out 106-60 winners to seal the series with a 100% record. Scotland finished runners up, Wales third and Ireland fourth. The means out of the twenty five series played England lead Scotland 12-11 with Wales on two.
The latest Open Singles Circuit events saw the Boston title go to Stephen Harris and the Lodden Vale one going to Ian Jenkins. The only local one is Hartlepool which takes place on April 18.
It is the final week of Seniors Inter Club fixtures with only two playoff places yet to be decided. In Area 3 Houghton Sancroft need all five points at Shield’s plus a nine shot win to sneak above their hosts into the runners up place.
Sancroft line up – F Fletcher, D Yarrow, P Brickle, D Wright, M Wright, B Sanderson, D Sim, F Froud, C Blake, R Robinson, B Race, I Whorlton.
The other place is in Area 1 where Durham A need a point from their final clash with third placed Darlington A, 4½ points for the latter and a five shot swing would pip Durham A.
The current play off qualifiers are – Great Aycliffe, Darlington B, Hartlepool A, Stanley, Hartlepool B and The Parks.
Houghton Gilpin end there season away at Hartlepool A and Houghton Kepier finish off at home to The Parks.
The Durham County U18’s squad recorded a second win in the national U18 double triples. Following the win over Notts the Durham young guns beat Yorkshire 55-18. At Shields Charlotte Williams (Vipers), Dylan Railton (Gateshead) and Layton Sykes (Vipers) won 22-9. At Selby the Aycliffe duo of John Lyons and Olivia Lewis plus skip Hartlepool’s Marcus Mosley eased to a 33-9 win. The win puts Durham top of the group with one game left against Lincolnshire to play.
Durham County selectors have kept faith with the Liberty team that beat Yorkshire in the last round. The only change against Lincolnshire is enforced as the Viper’s James Sneller is unavailable, incomes Hartlepool’s Matty Ray second bowl in Paul Hartley’s rink. The tie takes place on March 1 at New Earswick.
The following day both counties will meet again this time in the U25 double fours at York. The Durham line up is as follows – Amica Fordy, Marcus Mosley, Matt Mosley, Conrad Morrison (all Hartlepool), Abi Porter, Nail Thompson, Alex Wood (all Darlington), Layton Sykes (Sth Shields Vipers).
There was some sad news for the local bowls scene with the news that former member of Houghton Indoor’s and a Honorary Life Member Mabel Coulson (93) sadly passed away.
The outdoor league fixtures for the Sunderland & District, the SWBA and the Grindon League have been released; all club secretaries should have received a copy.