HOUGHTON LADIES SHOW MEN THE WAY TO VICTORY

South Shields will face Blackpool in the last 16 of the Egham Trophy after a strong performance from both away rinks clinched an 88-60 win over Hornsea.

While Blackpool ended Durham’s hopes with a 6964 victory, Shields trailed by nine points after their home leg.

Marilyn Robson, Karen Paterson, James Sneller and Gary Farquhar fought back from 11-1 down to finish 21-19 behind against Carl Stoakes, while Ann Upsall, Pam Carlin, Phil Dixon and Ian Riches went down 24-17 to England skip Danielle Martinson.

It was a different story at Hornsea, however.

Nina Riches, Jean Chapman, Dave Paterson and David Bolt romped to a 28-8 win over Cliff Holmes while Jackie Tallack, Maureen Charles, Jaxon McKenna and Shaun McIntosh were impressive 24-7 winners over David Tooley, sealing the overall win.

Houghton Ladies moved into the next round of the Mason Trophy double fours with a hard-fought 36-31 win over Great Aycliffe.

The away quartet of Doreen Fenwick, Liz Morris, Joan Baker and Norma Stephenson went down 2115 to E.Hugill but the home rink of Jenny Smith, Evelyn Barkes, Brenda Robson and Joan Rodgerson collected a last-end four to win 21-10.

In the next round, Houghton face South Shields, who defeated Ferryhill 41-21.

Both Houghton squads lost in the latest round of the mens’ over-60s double fours, though.

Houghton A succumbed 35-27 to South Shields A, Joe Sutherland, Mal Baker, Freddie Fetcher and Michael Davis collecting an early seven against Ernie McCord, Bob Cragg, Alan Lawton and Billy Ferry at Houghton but settling in the end for a narrow 17-15 win.

At Shields, George Brown, Peter Thomson, John Jones and Frankie Froud saw things slip away in the second half of the game going from 9-9 to finish 20-10 down to Ebby Dent, Fred Knubley, Ron Chapman and Bobby Graham. Shields face Cumbria in the next round.

Houghton B also lost, 4022 to Darlington B.

Tony Grimes, David Forth, D.Robson and Billy Roberts trailed 7-0 before a 13-12 loss to Alan Henderson.

At Darlington, Stan Barnes, Dave Armstrong, Richard Thorpe and Frankie Kell led 7-1 against Stan Summers but eventually succumbed to a 25-10 loss.

In the next round, Darlington face Thornaby.

South Shields B lost 32-31 against Great Aycliffe, who now face Stanley.

The local stages of this season’s national competitions continued with an allShields clash in the singles as David Bolt defeated Ian McIntosh 21-19.

Durham’s Gary Smith beat Shields’ Alan Lawton 21-12 and will now face his pairs partner Phil Smithson, who beat West Denton’s Michael Bennett 21-8.

Shields’ Gary Farquhar won 21-9 against Gateshead’s Mark Smith and will next face clubmate Shaun McIntosh.

Houghton’s Patrick Thomson enjoyed a 21-13 win against Durham’s Mark Barkess and next faces Gateshead’s Brian Orrell.

In the south section, Hartlepool’s Paul Hartley lost 2119 to Ferryhill’s Alan Hinds, who now faces either Vinnie O’Neill or Glen Skipp, both of Hartlepool.

There was better news for Hartley in the pairs, with two quick-fire wins over Darlington opposition, an 18-8 away victory over Keith Burton and a 23-9 home win over Tony Macey.

West Denton’s Arron Robson defeated Stanley’s Eddie Henry 20-9 and will now face The Parks’ Matthew Raftree, who defeated Houghton’s Peter Thomson 24-5.

South Shields’ James Sneller cruised to a 31-13 win over Durham’s Mark Barkess and will now head to Durham to face Gary Smith.

In the triples, Smith defeated Stanley’s Brett Arkley 18-9 and will next face clubmate Michael Laydon, who ended Houghton’s Stevie Tindale’s hopes 18-7.

There was better news for Houghton’s Sam Patterson, who had a cracking 18-14 win at Gateshead over Malcolm Johnston.

In the fours, Durham’s Gary Smith completed a double over Stanley’s Brett Arkley, 17-5, and South Shields’ Ian Riches defeated West Denton’s Clive Knott 17-14.

In the over-60s singles, Billy Ferry of Shields defeated West Denton’s Roy Goldsmith 21-11 and Houghton’s Michael Wright beat Shields’ Joe Webster 21-8.

Wright also progressed in the pairs with a 18-16 win over Gateshead’s Brian Poulter and will now head to Shields to face Billy Ferry, who narrowly beat Stanley’s Eddie Henry 14-12.

In the over-50s triples, there was a Houghton double over Gateshead as Stevie Tindale beat Brian Orrell 1211 and Michael Wright defeated Malcolm Johnston 20-7, although another Houghton squad went out as Dave Armstrong lost 17-13 at Durham to Mark Barkess.

In the Champion of Champions, Durham’s Gary Smith won a 21-20 thriller against Shields’ Phil Dixon and will now face Darlington’s Mark Jones in the area final after the latter defeated Ferryhill’s Alan Hinds 21-18.

It has been a good week in the mixed pairs for South Shields as three squads booked quarter-final places.

David Bolt’s 23-9 win over Durham’s Mark Higgins sets up a clash against clubmate Ian Riches, who ended Paul Sainthouse’s hopes 25-16. The third success saw Dave Paterson run out a 22-13 winner over Durham’s Brian Brown.

In the mixed fours, South Shields’ Shaun McIntosh went out losing 21-18 at home to West Denton’s Aaron Robson.

The Durham County seniors had a resounding 12689 win over Lincolnshire in the first round of the over60s Liberty Trophy, and face Yorkshire in the next round.

The seniors also made a winning start in the Midland Seniors League, defeating Leicestershire 194-70 (21-1) at Selby.

Durham have named their Liberty Cup team to face Cumbria on December 15, with three clubs dominating the 24-man squad – Hartlepool (10), Durham (7) and South Shields (6).

There are three debutees in one rink, Aycliffe youngster Jordan Harston and South Shields’ James Sneller both winning well-deserved call-ups, and following last season’s over-50s National title, Hartlepool’s Dale Oram gets the nod to form Durham’s Phil Smithson’s front three.

There are also overdue debuts for Durham’s Bryan Henderson and Michael Laydon.

The Potters resort was once again the venue for the Open Singles Circuit Grand Finals weekend, with last season’s top 32-ranked players - including South Shields’ David Bolt and Durham’s Michael Laydon - battling for the £1600 first prize.

With the top two from the groups qualifying into the last-16 knockout stage, Bolt sadly finished third in his group with a final tie-breaker loss to Torquay’s Danny Denison ending his hopes.

Laydon, however, reached the knockout stages finishing second in his group with a straight sets win over last season’s top-ranked player, Oxford’s Scott Edwards.

But in a last-16 tie that could have gone either way, Lay don’ s dreams were dashed as the Durham player went down 4-3, 5-4 to Huntingdon’s Nicky Brett.

The eventual winner was last season’s number three-ranked player, Moonfleet’s Martin Pluckett.

There was some sad news for the local bowls scene this week as Jimmy Blair (72) sadly passed away, the Hetton Workmens’ member a very popular character within the game and a much-respected player.