Forster in line for club treble
BOWLS NOTES WITH RICHARD MCKIE
South Shields men and Houghton ladies will be looking to reach the quarterfinals of - respectively - the Denny Cup and Yetton Trophy for the first time today.
Shields face 2017 champions Kingsthorpe at Leeds with Gary Farquhar skip of the following team: D. Paterson, J.Minto, J.Sneller, G.Farquhar, N.Ridley, M.Bryne, S.Hubbard, I.McIntosh, P.Dixon, M.Peach, K.Storf, D.Bolt, J.McKenna, P.Sainthouse, J.Halcrow, C.Yeomans.
Houghton ladies take on York with Susan Forster lead for Jenny Smith’s rink, while at York Florence Phythian is handed Ann Banks’ skips job.
At Houghton: J.Watt, E.Barkes, V.Bambrough, J.Rodgerson, S.Forster, S.Richardson, B.Robson, JB.Smith; at York: M.Metcalf, D.Fenwick, J.Baker, F.Phythian,M.Hall,E.Morris, A.Vout, N.Stephenson.
South Shields are then in Top Club last-16 action against Blackpool Newton Hall at York tomorrow: Ladies – A.Upsall, M.Charles, J.Tallack, P.Bryne, M.Robson; Men – D.Bolt, P.Dixon, J.Minto, S.Hubbard, G.Farquhar, J.Sneller, C.Yeomans, J.McKenna.
The Inter-Club League also returns tomorrow with Houghton facing a must-win game against Great Aycliffe.
At Houghton: M.Baker, S.Patterson, A.Patterson, F.Froud, M.Noble, J.McAdoo, F.Fletcher, B.Henderson; at Aycliffe (1pm start) – M.Wright, K.Armstrong, J.Jones, P.Thomson, A.Grimes, E.Downes, D.Wright, R.Mckie.
Houghton Sancroft seniors need a positive result at Stanley on Monday (10.30am) to stay in play-off contention: J.Sutherland, G.Brown, F.Fletcher, I.Whorlton, P.Thomson, T.Joicey, J.Swinney, F.Froud, M.Wright, A.Ferguson, D.Wright, J.Jones.
On Wednesday (10.30am), Houghton Gilpin are at Hartlepool A: P.Noble, P.Robinson, D.Hockaday, W.Roberts, E.Downes, M.Walker, D.Robson, D.Gibson, R.Leonard, T.McClaren, D.Scott, R.Robson.
In the local stage of the national singles, Durham’s Mark Higgins booked an area semi-final spot after defeating Gateshead’s Brian Orrell 21-10, and will next face either clubmate Michael Laydon or South Shields’ Gary Farquhar.
In the pairs, Hartlepool’s Paul Hartley moved into the area semi-final with a 15-6 win over clubmate Paul Mosley, and will face either West Denton’s Arron Robson or Stanley’s Ian Peacock.
In an all-Hartlepool affair in the triples, Hartley lost to Glenn Skipp 18-13, but he did beat Darlington’s Jane Pattison 27-9 in the mixed pairs area semis, with Shields’ David Bolt and Dave Paterson contesting the other semi-final.
In the ladies singles club competition final at Houghton, Susan Forster defeated Brenda Robson to claim her first indoor singles title, and she could be in line for a domestic treble as she contests the pairs with Joan Rodgerson, against Maureen Hall and Norma Stephenson, then the triples with Rodgerson and Jenny Smith against Margaret Metcalf, Joan Baker and Ellen Faith.
The fours title went to Jean Watt, Brenda Robson, Jenny Smith and Ellen Faith.
The men’s semi-finals are: singles – P.Brickle v F.Fletcher, Pat Thomson v D.Todner; pairs – I.Whorlton v D.Armstrong, A.Maidment v P.Thomson.
The over-60s semis are: singles – P.Thomson v F.Fletcher, W.Holmes v I.Tracey; pairs – D.Sim v I.Whorlton, D.Wright v AJ.Dunn.
And the over-60s finals are: triples – N.Holmes v F.Froud; fours – F.Froud v AJ.Dunn.
The 2019 World Indoor Singles and Pairs gets underway on Friday at the Potters resort, with local interest in the shape of South Shields pair Jaxon McKenna and Shaun McIntosh taking on England’s Paul Sharman and Mike Titcombe.
In the singles, clubmate Ian McIntosh goes up against last year’s runner-up and fourth seed Robert Paxton on Wednesday, January 16 (2pm), while Durham’s Gary Smith, who was handed a place after the planned tour card qualifier dropped out, will face 16th seed Michael Stepney on Monday January 21.
Bowls England are endorsing 12 players to compete in the prestigious Tiger Bowls World Invitation event in Hong Kong during March, with Northumberland quartet Josh Minto, Steve Pallas, Simon Richardson and Chris Yeomans selected.
The World Bowls Tour suffered a blow as the planned International Open at Blackpool Newton Hall in March was cancelled after one of the event sponsors called in the liquidators, and then the remaining sponsor pulled out due to uncertainties over cash availability.
The WBT are hoping to run the tournament in September.
Finally, there was sad news for the local bowls scene with the death of Gordon Reay, who was 86.
The Ryhope and former Barley Mow member was a popular figure and a muchrespected player.