The Bowls Durham County finals were held at the weekend with Houghton Dairy Lane once again hosting the two day extravaganza. It turned out to be a cracking couple of days for Silksworth Pumas as they landed four titles plus a share in another two. Both the four bowl singles went to the Pumas, Scott Baker claimed his first success beating former winner Roker Marine’s Peter Thomson 21-16. The ladies title went to Charlotte Williams who collected her first four bowl singles title beating Darlington Woodland’a Jane Hewitson 21-14.
Williams had a weekend to remember, four finals and four wins. In the ladies Under 24 Pairs alongside RA’s Abi Porter they beat Darlington Woodland’s Olivia Lewis and Sophie Wood 23-12. Williams third success came in the ladies Under 24 singles ending Woodland’s Sophie Woods hopes of a fourth win 21-12.
There was another Pumas double as Neal Ridley and Charlotte Williams both won their respective Two Bowl singles title. Ridley beat Blackhall’s Mark Hodgson 15-10 while Williams beat Newton Hall Eileen Horan 16-9.
There was more Puma success this time in the men’s Under 24 Pairs, Layton Sykes teamed up with RA’s Alex Wood to snatch a last end double and beat South Parks Liam Brodie 15-14.
A weekend to remember for the Pumas was completed in the men’s Fours final as Scott Baker, Layton Sykes, David Sykes and James Sneller beat the host clubs Joe Sutherland, Ian Armstrong, Jimmy McAdoo and Dale Oram 23-9. The only Puma loss came in the men’s Pairs final when Mal Peach & James Sneller lost 22-7 to Blackhall’s Paul Hartley.
Other results
Champion of Champions – A Lawton (JWE) 21-19 K Bone (Lyndhust)
Ladies Champion of Champions – T Pearson (CP) 21-14 C Wade (DW)
Ladies Triples – C Michie (RA) 17-14 C Budd (NH)
Ladies Fours – A Mitchell (CP) 28-3 E Horan (NH)
Ladies Pairs – T Pearson (CP) 9-20 S Ramage (CP)
Men’s Triples – A Kirtland (RA) 15-2 D Newman (RA)
There was double disappointment in the final of the Senior Fours, the Pumas Mal Peach, Neil Reid, John Leeman and Paul Baker led 6-1 only to finish 22-6 down to Blackhall’s John Mansfield. In the ladies equivalent the New Herrington quartet of Ann Dale, Gill Ferguson, Lorraine Galley and Linda Watson were always playing catch up and went down 19-`12 to Consett Parks Jackie Rogan.
Appleby will host the men’s Northern Counties Championship this weekend, the once much sought after title has in recent years lost its appeal.
The Sunderland & District leagues are entering the crunch part of the season, the remaining two unbeaten records both in the Swan Cup came to an end. Division One leaders Houghton Dairy Lane’s 10 game run came to an end at Roker Marine 5-1, Silksworth’s 6-0 win at North Biddick means Dairy Lane still need 1½ points from the last three games to retain the Cup, Silksworth host the leaders this week. At the other end of the table Hylton Colliery Welfares 5-1 win over New Herrington has opened up the second relegation spot. With North Biddick’s fate appearing to be sealed only five points cover the next four teams.
The other unbeaten record went as leaders Simonside lost 5-1 at Usworth, they are still 13½ points clear of third placed Usworth. Pemberton’s promotion hopes were hit for six at Thompson Park, a 6-0 loss leaves them 5½ adrift of second placed Hetton Workmen.
The Earl Cup title race looks like a two horse race, with leaders Dairy Lane A on a bye Barnes Park took advantage to go top beating New Herrington 6-0 and have a 5½ point lead but have yet to have their bye. Holders Silksworth Pumas title hopes look to have gone after suffering a 5-1 loss at Dairy Lane B. The top two face each other in two weeks time which will go a long way to decide the destination of the cup. The relegation battle looks all sealed as both North Biddick and Sunderland are over twenty points adrift.
In Division 2 Usworth’s ninth win on the bounce has lifted them to within 3½ points of leaders Hetton Workmen. Seaham Town’s 5-1 win against South Hylton keeps them with an outside chance of clawing the top two back.
With only two weeks left in the Harold Howey four teams have a chance of taking the title, leaders New Herrington B suffered a 3-1 loss at third placed North Biddick A, that result allowed Barnes Park to close the gap to just half a point after they beat Dairy B 3-1, the top two face each other this week. One of the relegation places has been filled, Hylton Colliery A’s 4-0 loss will see them drop into Division 2, New Herrington A are favourites to join them after a 4-0 home loss to Whitburn.
Division 2 promotion race is wide open with only 2½ points covering the top six teams. Usworth’s 4-0 win over Thompson Park put them top, Pemberton B are hitting a rich vein of form as a fifth win 4-0 at Roker Park moved them up to second. Sunderland B are also on a roll as a 4-0 win over the Sunderland A team springs them up to third.
The Storey Bowl holders Seaham Town have a handsome twelve point lead at the top after a 7-0 win at Houghton Town, second placed Thompson Park also won 7-0 at Jarrow West End.
In the Bowls England (BE) Mixed Pairs Woodland’s Sophie Wood and the Pumas David Bolt won a thriller 17-16 at Benfield against Gosforth’s Stephen Miller, they will now face Heaton Hall’s Anthony Booth Young for a place at Leamington.
Roker Marine’s Thomson brothers run in the family pairs came to an end at Lyndhurst as they narrowly lost 18-13 to Gosforth’s Karl & Luke Jameson.
There was better news in the BE Champion of Champions as New Herrington’s Colin Watson beat Gosforth’s Nick Armstrong at Pemberton 21-19. Watson will face York RI’s Jack Grover for a place at Leamington Spa.