Local action hots up in the national competitions
The local stages of bowls’ national competitions continue to deliver plenty of action.
In the singles, Gary Smith (Durham) beat Mal Peach (Shields) 21-16, David Bolt (Shields) saw off Laughlin Todd (Durham) 21-4 and in an all-Shields affair Gary Farquhar had an impressive 21-11 win over Jaxon McKenna.
James Snellar (Shields) went down 21-14 at West Denton against Daniel Bennett and there was a surprise 2114 home loss for Shields’ Josh Halcrow at the hands of West Denton’s George Rogan.
In the southern half of the draw, Colin Boston won a thriller against fellow Hartlepool player Carl Higgins 2120.
In the pairs, Paul Sainthouse (Shields) had a 16-12 away win against Alex Bryden (Gateshead) while Mal Peach (Shields) beat Darlington’s Barry Hopkins 21-8.
Down south, Darlington’s Tony Macey had a 15-14 win at Hartlepool against Glenn Skipp and Matty Ray (Hartlepool) beat Jordan Harston (Aycliffe) 18-8.
Houghton’s Frankie Froud’s run in the triples came to an end with a 22-14 loss at West Denton against Stephen Bolton.
Josh Minto won an allShields clash with Gary Farquhar 19-11 while club-mate Phil Dixon had a smashing 195 win over Graeme Robinson (West Denton) and Brett Arkley (Stanley) beat Malcolm Johnston (Gateshead) 20-8.
In the fours, Houghton’s Peter Thomson went down at home 23-7 to Josh Minto (Shields).
Houghton’s Michael Wright won a thriller in the over-60s singles 21-20 against James Young (West Denton) and will play Durham’s Alan Coulson next.
Stanley’s John Thurlbeck secured top of the draw with a 21-14 win over Gateshead’s Brian Poulter.
In the mixed pairs, there were wins for Phil Dixon, David Bolt (both Shields) and Hartlepool’s past national champions, the Mosleys.
Jaxon McKenna (Shields) booked an area semi-final place in the under-25 singles with a straight sets win over Durham’s Conrad Morrison.
In the Champion of Champions, Paul Hartley (Shields) lost to Hartlepool’s Mark Jones, but Nina Riches (Shields) beat West Denton’s Karen Weites 21-11.