The day a Pennywell club bowler beat an England international
In this week’s trip down memory lane, we go back 35 years to the 1975 outdoor season, in particular the Durham County singles, it was the year a young dashing 26-year-old won the coveted county four bowl singles title.
The now defunct Pennywell club had already hit the headlines five years earlier when Tommy Bransby and Billy Thompson not only lifted the county pair’s title but went onto to win the national pairs title at Mortlake on the banks of the river Thames in London.
In 1975 the club enjoyed its only other county success when Michael Davis landed the singles title.
The 21-18 scoreline in the semi-final against Harry Bridges doesn't tell the whole story as both players were hampered by the fact that the Houghton Dairy Lane greenkeeper had unwittingly covered the green with fertiliser on the morning of the game, which meant two buckets of water were left at each end so both players could get a grip of their bowls.
In the final, Davis faced former England international, Blackhall’s Bob Main, which the young Pennywell star won 21-15 for his first county title.
The final was marked by the then county president, Barnes Park’s Eric James, and ironically it was played on the Barnes Park green where Davis would later join and enjoy many successful years at.
The win also sent Davis to Worthing for the National Championships, however, his hopes were dashed as he suffered a second round loss to Yorkshire’s Ian Pratt.
The Rowntree Park player proved something of a jinx as the two clashed in the Northern Counties, and despite lying game on three occasions, Davis went down to a narrow 21-20 defeat.
The area dominated the county titles as the South Shields West Park legend Walter Newton won the pairs and fours title while Hebburn Park landed the triples.
In the Sunderland & District, Barnes Park ended Herrington
Workmen’s hopes of a third consecutive Earl Cup title, however, the Herrington club did notch a ninth straight Swan Cup title, a feat they would go on and repeat over the next 16 years, making 25 consecutive title defences, a record that will never be matched.
The Harold Howey vets title went to Barnes Park while founder members Mowbray landed the Storey Bowl.