FORSTER HEARTBREAK IN COUNTY FINAL LOSS
SINGLES CROWN CONTINUES TO ELUDE DAIRY LANE STAR AFTER NARROW FINAL DEFEAT
Houghton Dairy Lane’s Susan Forster suffered heartache as a first ladies’ County singles title still proves elusive.
Forster produced an excellent display to secure a 21-11 semi-final win over Bishop Auckland’s Heather Boon, setting up a final clash with Consett Park’s Teresa Pearson in the final at Bishop Auckland.
The early exchanges saw Pearson open up 10-5 and 15-10 leads before Forster responded to get back to 15-13. After slipping 17-13 behind, Forster notched back to back doubles to level the score at 17-17.
Then, when in trouble on the next end, the Dairy Lane star produced a cracking last bowl to lead 18-17.
The following end looked promising for Forster, however Pearson sent down a cracking couple of bowls to edge ahead again, 19-18.
Sadly for Forster, it was all over on the next end when a gallant last bowl connected with the shot bowl but agonisingly ran through a couple of inches to hand Pearson her fourth county singles title, winning 21-18.
On Monday, the ladies’ County pairs semi-finals and final will take place at Bishop Auckland.
Forster is back in action alongside skip Joan Rodgerson. They will face Newton Hall’s Fay Slinn in the morning semi-finals, while the other last-four tie sees Stockton’s Teresa Parnell up against Consett Park’s Gill Jones.
In the Bowls England Double Fours, both local squads were beaten.
Houghton Dairy Lane A snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against Elm Tree as they let slip a 15-shot lead, with six ends to play, to eventually lose 40-39 on an extra end. Silksworth A were well beaten at Dipton.
In the Champion of Champions competition, Silksworth’s David Bolt overcame Houghton Dairy Lane’s Freddie Fletcher 21-8 and will head to Roker Marine to face Peter Thomson next.
Dairy Lane enjoyed a smashing 44-25 win over Keswick Fitz Park at Brampton in the Tony Allcock Trophy. That sets up a trip to Darlington club Hundens next.
There was disappointment for the Durham County Under-25 double fours squad as they were beaten 46-39 at Kirbymoorside by Cumbria.
Silksworth’s Josh Halcrow went down 24-13 to Lewis Baxter, while Old Boys’ Bryan Henderson beat James Park 26-22.
Earl Cup front-runners Silksworth maintained their unbeaten record with a 7558 (5-2) victory over Seaham Town.
Barnes West End’s 61-47 (6-1) win at Houghton Town closed Silksworth’s lead to four points.
Barnes Park snatched a last-end 65-64 (5½-1½) win over Roker Marine to cement third place, while Usworth sank Hylton CW 76-60 (6-1).
In Division Two, leaders North Biddick were beaten 83-62 (5-2) at home by Sunderland, however second-placed Grindon Mill were also beaten, 67-56¼ (52) by Whitburn. Roker Park leapfrogged Ryhope with an 89-53 (5-2) win.
Sadly, as reported last week, one of the league’s founder members, Pemberton, are having a tough time of it and they have had to drop out of the Earl Cup.
With Swan Cup leaders Houghton Dairy Lane on a bye week, Silksworth took advantage to go top of Division One with a convincing 93-53 (6-1) win at South Hylton.
Barnes West End lost ground after they were beaten 86-64 (6-1) at Seaham Town, while Barnes Park eased past North Biddick 86-45 (7-0).
Hetton Workmen’s failed to get a team out against Roker Marine.
Usworth remain unbeaten at the top of Division Two following a 9546½ (7-0) defeat of Roker Park. Houghton Town beat Hylton CW 64-53¼(6-1)and Ryhope inflicted an eighth loss on Pemberton 78-29 (7-0).
Roker Park are still unbeaten at the top in the Storey Bowl after thumping Hetton Workmen’s 87-37½ (7-0).
Holders Seaham earned a good 76-47½ (6-1) win at Hylton CW, while Wearmouth’s search for a win goes on after an 80-55 (6-1) home loss to Houghton Town.
Leaders Roker Park head to Houghton Town today.
In the Harold Howey Trophy, Division One leaders Silksworth were beaten 3826 (3-1) at North Biddick A.
Houghton Dairy Lane A secured a good away win at Roker Marine A 33-27 (4-0), while Hylton CW A and Hetton Workmen’s played out a draw 35-35 (2-2).
Roker Park’s 43-30 (4-0) triumph against Whitburn moved them up to fourth place.
Second Division leaders Chester-le-Street extended their advantage to three points thanks to a 36-30 (40) win over Roker Marine B. There was good news for both Pemberton squads. The A team defeated Sunderland B 4532 (3-1), while the B team notched their first victory of the campaign, 35¼-24 (4-0) at New Herrington.
Silksworth’s 7948 (3-2) win at Wearmouth moved them into top spot in the Grindon League.
Barnes West End ended Whitburn’s unbeaten start with a 65-44 (4-1) success to rise to second place, while South Hylton moved third courtesy of a 55-47¾ (3-2) defeat of Ryhope, although only one-and-a-half points cover the top three.
In the Silver Jacks, Roker Park’s Jim Huntingdon edged past Grindon Mill’s Alan Patterson 20-19, while Barnes West End progressed their defence of the 3-2-1 Triples with a close-fought 218-210 win at Washington.
The second stages of the county competitions have been taking place this week at various venues, with plenty of local interest.
Leadgate hosted the triples, where the defending county champions, Silksworth’s Phil Dixon, Gary Farquhar and David Bolt, made progress with a 21-13 win over Pelton Fell’s Brian Brown.
All three local squads in the fours won through.
Silksworth’s David Bolt avenged last season’s loss to Hartlepool Park’s Dale Oram, thanks to a 20-12 success, while there was a Roker Marine double as Patrick ThomsondefeatedDunston’s Kevin King and Richie Mckie beat Spennymoor’s Barry Attwood 18-12.
In the pairs at Darlington RA, Barnes West End’s Frankie Froud and Bryan Sanderson were outgunned 25-11 by Stockton’s Mark Hodgson.
Dairy Lane’s Ken Briscoe and John Thurlbeck booked a last-eight place with a 18-12 success against Silksworth’s Phil Dixon and Colin Jefferson.
In the two-bowl singles, Silksworth’s David Bolt enjoyed back-to-back victories to move into the semi-finals.
Bolt defeated Darlington RA’s Andrew Kirtland 167 and then Hartlepool Old Boys’ Carl Higgins, again by 16-7.