JOSH PUTS IN VALIANT EFFORT AT NATIONALS
BOWLS NOTES WITH RICHARD MCKIE
South Shields youngster Josh Minto put up a valiant performance in last weekend’s Indoor National Under25s Singles at the City of Ely.
But handed a tough opener against past winner and eventual runner-up Ryan Atkins - from Malvern Hills - in the last 16, Minto narrowly lost the first set on a measure, never recovered and went out in straight sets, 2-0.
Atkins was in turn beaten 2-0 in the final by Kingsthorpe’s Connor Cinato.
Riverain’s Devon Cooper won the ladies’ equivalent.
Meanwhile, the Shields bandwagon shows no signs of stalling in the local stages of this season’s national competitions, as they could feature in at least six area finals.
In the singles, David Bolt secured an area final against Durham’s Mark Higgins after defeating Hartlepool’s Vinnie O’Neill 21-14.
Higgins overcame Shields’ Gary Farquhar in his semi, clinching the win with a three when the scores were 18-18.
In the pairs area final, Shields are guaranteed a representative as James Sneller and Ian McIntosh battle it out on Tuesday to face Hartlepool’s Paul Hartley.
At the same time in the triples, Neal Ridley needs to get past Houghton’s Peter Thomson to secure a final place against Hartlepool’s Glen Skipp, who ended Durham’s Gary Smith’s hopes in the other semi, 24-16.
In the fours, Farquhar inflicted another defeat on Smith - this time 16-11 - and will tackle Hartlepool’s Hartley in the area final.
Having already seen Bolt qualify in the mixed pairs, clubmate Ian Riches could complete the set if he defeats Hartlepool’s Marc Squirrell in the area final.
In the south section of the Two-Bowl singles, a couple of all-Hartlepool semi-finals saw wins for O’Neill and Skipp.
O’Neill defeated Hartley 21-13 and Skipp ended Jonny Forcer’s hopes 21-17.
In the Over-60s singles, Brian Orrell came out on top in an all-Gateshead affair 21-14 against Brian Poulter, and will now host Stanley’s John Thurlbeck, who ended Houghton’s Michael Wright’s hopes 21-3.
There was, however, disappointment for Thurlbeck in the Over-60s pairs, losing 16-13 at Gateshead against Ronnie Richardson, who will have home advantage in the area semi-final against either West Denton’s Roy Goldsmith or South Shields’ Billy Ferry.
The Parks’ Peter Dawson had a cracking 20-11 win at Gateshead against Alec Bryden to secure a place in the Over-55s triples, and will face either Durham’s Mark Barkess or Shields’ Dave Paterson.
An all-Stanley affair in the Over-60s fours saw Brian Harris defeat John Thurlbeck 17-7, and Harris will head to either Gateshead or West Denton for the area semi.
Inter-County League action resumes tomorrow with both local sides in action, including a crunch game for relegation-threatened Houghton as they face leaders Hartlepool having lost their previous two games. The start time has changed to 1pm at both venues.
At Houghton – P.Thomson (snr), K.Armstrong, A.Paterson, P.Thomson (jnr), A.Grimes, M.Noble, S.Patterson, F.Fletcher; at Hartlepool – A.Ferguson, J.McAdoo, D.Wright, B.Henderson, M.Wright, R.Thorpe, J.Jones, R.Mckie.
South Shields, who are only three points behind the leaders but have played a game more, face unbeaten Durham A, at 2pm.
At Shields – M.Baker, D.Gray, P.Sainthouse, K.Storf, R.Cragg, T.Young, K.Taylor, A.Harrison; at Durham – R.Hunter, E.Weightman, P.Hart, J.Halcrow, S.Baker, I.McDonald, M.Carr, J.Minto.
The various county Champion of Champions competitions are reaching the latter stages, with South Shields’ Phil Dixon having booked a place in the singles final with an impressive 219 win against Aycliffe’s Dave Quickmire.
Latest Draws: Singles (Final) – P.Dixon (Shields) v G.Skipp (Hartlepool)/S. Sherwood (Spennymoor)/A. Hind (Ferryhill); Pairs (S/Finals) – B.Attwood (Aycliffe) v GR.Smith(Durham),G.Skipp (Hartlepool) v A.Hind (Ferryhill); Triples (Final) W.Dixon (Spennymoor) v B.Watson (Darlington)/K. Minnis (Durham); Fours (S/ Finals) – B.Orrell (Gateshead) held at Cardiff in May, with v A.Hind (Ferryhill), Silksworth’s David Bolt to J.Thurlbeck (Stanley) v play second bowl in the triples M.Laydon (Durham). and third in the fours.
The finals will be played Men - Singles: Jamie at Hartlepool week ending Walker (Northamptonshire); March 23-24. Pairs: Steve Mitchinson (Essex)
Seniors: Singles (Final) & Walker (Northamptonshire); – S.Krimpen (Durham) v Triples: Ian Lesley A.Hind (Ferryhill); Pairs (Final)–W.Dixon(Spennymoor) (Devon), Bolt (Durham) & Sam Tolchard (Devon); v B.Watson (Darlington)/F. Fours: Mitchinson (Essex), Froud (Houghton); Triples Lesley (Devon), Bolt (Durham) (S/Finals) – D.Webb & Tolchard (Devon). (Stanley) v D.Kilner (Hartlepool), Women - Singles: Natalie A.Stewart (Durham) v Chestney (Devon); Pairs: M.Peet (Gateshead); Fours Rebecca Wigfield (Northamptonshire) (S/Finals) – B.Watson (Darlington) & Chestney v B.Hutchinson (Aycliffe), (Devon); Triples: Jamie-Lea M.English (Stanley) v Winch (Leicestershire), Lorraine J.Ainger (Hartlepool). Kuhler (Sussex) & Sian
Bowls England have confirmed Honnor (Kent); Fours: Winch the playing combinations (Leicestershire), Wigfield for the Atlantic (Northamptonshire), Kuhler Championships due to be (Sussex) and Honnor (Kent).