In the women’s county competition’s Silksworth Pumas young gun Charlotte Williams is having a ball, in the women’s pairs alongside Anne Upsall they booked a place in the County final beating Lyndhurst’s Yesi Smith 16-12. In the final Williams will face Sunderland’s Barbara Ledger who had a magnificent 19-17 win over holder Consett Park’s Teresa Pearson. The talented eighteen year old Williams has another two County finals to look forward to, first in the Under 25 singles a 21-16 semi final win over Lyndhurst’s Charlotte Welsh booked a final against either Lyndhurst’s Chloe Walker or Darlington Woodland’s England star Sophie Wood, then in the Under 25 Pairs alongside Lyndhurst’s Rosie Parker they will face Woodland’s Sophie Wood. To top the season off Williams will be heading to Leamington Spa as part of the County Amy Rose squad.
In the women’s county singles former winner Dairy Lane Glynis Morgan missed out in the semi finals losing 21-14 at Consett Park to Darlington Woodland’s Tracey Fairless.
The men’s county championships are at the make or break Leamington qualification stage, in the singles the 2022 winner Seaham Town’s Mark Higgins booked a place in the county final after turning around a 16-6 deficit against Darlington RA’s Andrew Kirtland to get home 21-19. In the final Higgins will face Jarrow West End’s Ian Smith who ended Blackhall’s Paul Hartley’s hope 21-18. There was a tremendous final end in the fours clash between Dairy Lane’s Dan Todner and Silksworth Pumas David Bolt, with Todner 16-12 down but holding a compact five it took Bolt’s final bowl to remove two Dairy Lane bowls to secure a Pumas 16-15 win. In the final Bolt will face Blackhall’s Paul Hartley, the Blackhall lad beat Middleton St George’s Frank Dixon 20-8.
The men’s County Alsop Trophy team returned to winning ways as they beat Lancashire 19-3 at a scorching Southport. After losing their opening two games their title defence was long gone. On Saturday they will bring their campaign to an end as they host Northumberland at Darlington Woodland (2pm).
Durham now know their Middleton Cup last eight opponents after Lincolnshire topped the Midland’s group, the tie will take place at Dunnington on 9 August (12pm)
The Durham women’s John’s Trophy qualification hopes needed results wise a perfect storm, sadly they failed to beat Northumberland at Gosforth losing 18-4, Yorkshire qualify from the group.
The women’s Stella Logan squad still have a chance of lifting the silverware, a 6-4 win at Northallerton over leaders Yorkshire through the group wide open with only one round of games to play.
Latest Standings – Yorkshire 30, Durham 25, Cumbria 24, Northumberland 22
In the new Bowls England Over 60’s Mixed Inter County competition Durham beat Northumberland 118-98 at a very wet Dairy Lane, the win sets up a last eight tie against Lincolnshire on 5 August at a neutral venue.
Week 13 in the Earl Cup wasn’t unlucky for leaders Silksworth Pumas as they opened up a 7½ point lead at the top. A 5-1 home win over Dairy Lane B coupled with second placed Roker Marine losing 6-0 at Sunderland – who ended a five game losing streak, puts the Pumas in the box seat to retain their title. Barnes Park’s 6-0 win at New Herrington moves them up to second while Usworth kept alive their chances of avoiding the drop with a 6-0 win over Seaham Town, the latter are now 13½ points from safety.
Division two leaders North Biddick notched a sixth consecutive win this time 5-1 at South Hylton to open up a nine point lead over Pemberton. The latter are now unbeaten in eight games after a 5½-½ win at Hylton Colliery, Hetton Workmen’s are chasing Pemberton after they beat Whitburn 6-0. There were away wins for Houghton Town and Thompson Park to move both mid table.
The Swan Cup leaders New Herrington racked up a seventh straight win beating Barnes Park 5-1, the leaders are now three points clear of Houghton Dairy Lane who won 6-0 against third bottom Hetton Workmen. The fight to avoid the drop looks like any two from three, bottom of the table Usworth lost 5-1 at Seaham Town and Roker Marine woes continue losing 5-1 at home to Silksworth Pumas and have only won one in the last seven games.
Only five points cover the top five teams in Division Two, leaders North Biddick lost 6-0 at Pemberton, Hylton Colliery move up to second with a 6-0 win over South Hylton, bottom of the table Washington ended a six game losing streak as they beat Thompson Park 6-0.
With only four weeks left in the Harold Howey the top two are both still unbeaten, Dairy Lane B beat Roker Marine A 4-0 to open up a two point lead over Barnes Park, a hard fought 3-1 win at Whitburn kept Barnes unbeaten record intact. At the foot of the table Marine B lost for an eighth time this time 3½-½ at home to New Herrington A, Hylton Colliery dropped into the relegation places after a 4-0 home loss to Dairy Lane A.
In Division Two leaders Sunderland B won 4-0 at Chester le Street, Washington B moved up into the promotion places with a 4-0 win at Thompson Park, third placed Pemberton A are still unbeaten after a 4-0 win over Whitburn A.
Week 10 in the Storey Bowl saw leaders Seaham Town beat Hylton Colliery 5-2, New Herrington closed the gap at the top after they beat Thompson Park 6-1 but are still 13½ points behind Seaham.
In the women’s SWBA league leaders Sunderland A were beaten 3-1 at Barnes Park A, that win lifted Barnes off the bottom of the table, with second placed New Herrington on a bye
Whitburn took the opportunity to draw level on points as they beat Roker Marine 3-1.
The Grindon League Tommy Thompson quarter finals saw wins for holders Silksworth Pumas, Houghton Dairy Lane and North Biddick while Hylton Colliery received a walk over.