DURHAM KEEP UP BID TO RETAIN ALSOP TITLE
Durham County B team’s hopes of defending their Alsop Trophy title are still alive – after a hardfought 122-115 win against Lancashire at Southport last weekend.
For the third match running, Hartlepool Park’s Alan Taylor steered his rink of Brian Poulter (Usworth), Alan Mole (Hartlepool Park) and Mark Hodgson (Stockton) to a matchdefining 33-14 win over Chris Yates.
Across the green, Durham had another two triumphant rinks.
Houghton Dairy Lane’s Dan Todner eased to an impressive 22-12 win over Ken Hayes, while Roker Marine’s Richie Mckie sneaked a last-end treble to get home 17-16 against Peter Rogers.
A couple of rink points slipped away on the last ends.
Team captain Dale Oram (Hartlepool Park) went down 19-16 to John Muldoon and Dairy Lane’s Jimmy McAdoo was pipped on a last-end measure, 24-23, by R. Murray.
The remaining Durham rink, skipped by Hundens’ Stuart Clarke, had a tough afternoon, going down 30-11 to Steve Goulding to leave it 16-6 points wise in Durham’s favour.
The B team head to Courtfield tomorrow to face Cumbria, knowing a win would see them register a first for the County, going two years unbeaten.
A win, however, might not be enough to retain their title as other results could transpire against them.
Durham team: J Godfrey (Houghton DL), A Middleton (Roker Marine), P Coulson (Darlington RA), A Hill (Barnes Park); J Sutherland (Houghton DL), A Hind (Houghton DL), S Tindale (Houghton DL), D Todner (Houghton DL); P Hudspeth (Houghton DL), G Dougherty (Hartlepool Park), S Clarke (Hundens), D Oram (Hartlepool Park); B Poulter (Usworth), A Mole (Hartlepool Park), M Davis (Barnes Park), A Taylor (Hartlepool Park); A Greathead (Hartlepool Park), C Howie (Hartlepool Park), R Robinson (Roker Marine), A Parnell (Stockton); R Dixon (Houghton DL), D Metcalfe (Leadgate), J Wilson (Houghton DL), J McAdoo (Houghton DL). Reserves: S Patterson (Hetton Workmen), V Tunstall (Hundens), R Mckie (Roker Marine)
Latest table: Durham playedpts 3-48, Northumberland 3-37, Cumbria 3-28, Yorkshire 2-27, Lancashire 3-14
The Durham County ladies’ John’s Trophy squad produced a stunning performance in their final group game at Shipton as they cruised past Derbyshire 161-86.
The 18-4 points return means that Nottinghamshire have to beat Derbyshire in the remaining group game to pinch the quarter-final place.
Durhamhadfourwinning rinks, with the pick of them being led by Consett Park’s Gill Jones, who racked up an astonishing 51-8 success.
Locally, Houghton Dairy Lane’s Susan Forster, Margaret Metcalfe, Lorraine Breheny (Sunderland) and Joan Rodgerson (Dairy Lane) enjoyed a cracking 30-15 victory, while Hetton’s Norma Stephenson went down 22-16.
Latest table: Durham 2-23, Nottinghamshire 1-17, Derbyshire 1-4
There was disappointment for both the men’s and ladies’ County double fours squads.
In the Balcomb Trophy at a scorching Kirkbymoorside, the men’s squad defeated Derbyshire in the morning regional semi-final.
Both rinks recorded wins as Silksworth’s David Bolt defeated Andrew Clipston 23-12 and Hartlepool Park’s John Mansfield saw off Paul Broughton 20-8 to seal a 4320 win.
Sadly, despite a spirited fightback, it was not to be in the final as Lancashire ran out 42-36 winners.
Mansfield edged home 1817 against Dominic McVittie, while Bolt went down 25-18 to Chris Gale.
Lancashire will face Sussex in the national semifinal at Leamington Spa in August.
In the ladies’ Walker Cup, Durham faced Nottinghamshire at Copmanthorpe, but both rinks were beaten in a 42-27 overall reverse.
Houghton Dairy Lane’s Joan Rodgerson lost 1512 to Terrie Wombell and Darlington Woodland’s Ann Anderson lost 27-15 to Janet Eames.
Notts will face Northumberland in the regional semi-final.
At the fifth time of asking, the County ladies’ Stella Logan squad finally got a win under their belts.
Taking on Cumbria at Appleby, the Durham squad ran out 111-102 (9-1) winners to gain revenge for the 42-shot loss at Pelton Fell in May. Locally, Roker Park’s Maureen Firth steered her rink to a 21-14 victory.
Durham next host Northumberland in two weeks’ time at Stockton.
The ladies’ A team return to Northern Trophy action today at Horden as they take on holders Yorkshire.
In May, Durham went down by 18 shots in a closefought battle at York Railway, so will be looking to overturn that result.
Latest standings: Cumbria 3-21, Yorkshire 3-17½, Durham 3-15½, Northumberland 3-6
Hopes of a fifth County pairs title for the Houghton Dairy Lane duo of Susan Forster and Joan Rodgerson were dashed in the semifinals at a roasting Bishop Auckland.
In a marathon three-hour semi-final, the Dairy Lane pair were beaten 21-18 by the defending champions, Newton Hall’s Eileen Horan and Fay Slinn.
It was a good day for the Newton Hall pair as they went on to claim back-toback titles by defeating Stockton’s Jackie Carson and Teresa Parnell 16-10 in the final.