DURHAM’S MIDDLETON HOPES SUNK BY TYKES
THREE WINS APIECE, BUT YORKSHIRE COME OUT ON TOP IN BIG CUP SHOWDOWN
Durham County’s hopes of qualifying for the last eight in the prestigious Middleton Cup were ended by a 21-shot loss to Yorkshire at Dunnington.
Enforced changes and a tricky playing surface contributed to the loss, but the conditions are the same for both teams.
The 16-6 points reversal leaves Durham bottom of the group.
Across the green, it was a three-rink split,.
Stockton’s Paul Mosley eased past Middlesbrough’s Vinnie O’Neill 25-10, while Hartlepool Park’s Dale Oram returned to winning ways, beating Phil Emmerson 2315.
Silksworth’s David Bolt completed Durham’s three winning rinks with a hardfought 19-14 success against Scott Walton.
Sadly, the remaining three Durham rinks suffered defeats.
The pick of them was Silksworth skip Paul Baker’s 22-13 loss against former national champion Mark Walton. The other two rinks went down by 20 shots each.
Stockton’s Colin Boston lost 32-12 to Danny Clark and Hartlepool’s Ian Jackson was beaten 28-8 by Gary Bunce.
Durham will still have to play their final group game against Derbyshire at Kirkbymoorside as Derbyshire can still qualify from the group.
Now only having pride to play for, Durham have the chance to avenge last season’s narrow loss.
The County B team’s Alsop Trophy title defence is still on track after a hard-fought 126-116 win over neighbours Northumberland at Stockton.
Despite several enforced changes, the B team recorded three wins and a draw, enough to clinch an overall victory.
For the second week running, the rink of Brian Poulter (Usworth), John Godfrey (Houghton DL), Michael Davis (Barnes Park) and Alan Taylor (Hartlepool Park) produced a matchwinning 23-12 win over Jim Taylor.
Dairy Lane’s Jimmy McAdoo (pictured, inset) defeated former Thompson Park player Jacky Taylor 21-20 and club-mate Ray Robinson steered his quartet to a 23-18 win over Tony Fantozzi.
Stockton’s Andrew Parnell had to settle for a 19-19 draw against Darren Cooper. The losing rinks were skipped by Barnes Park’s Albie Hill, pipped 26-24 by Lee Birch, and Hundens’ Stuart Clarke, who went down 21-16 to Matt Raftree. Durham make the trip to Southport tomorrow to face Lancashire. With more enforced changes, players from the A team have been drafted in to make up the shortfall.
Durham ladies’ County B team continued their poor run of results in this season’s Stella Logan Trophy, succumbing to a fourth consecutive loss, this time at the hands of leaders Yorkshire.
Durham had two winnings rinks, Horden’s Val Gray edging home 21-19 and Darlington Woodlands’ Julie Robinson triumphing 19-12.
Overall, however, it was a 122-93 loss. The 8-2 points return leaves Durham rooted to the bottom of the table.