Sunderland’s superb run halted by Lincoln outfit
This week we take a look back to the 2010/11 indoor campaign.
In the Denny Cup first rou n d Su n d e rl a n d we re eventually beaten 87-82 by a Durham outfit who went onto knock South Shields out i n th e n ex t rou n d by ten shots.
Houghton also crashed out of the competition, going down to a 92-73 defeat in their encounter against The Parks.
All three teams dropped in the Denny Plate where their paths would cross.
First of all Sunderland ended South Shields’ hopes, running out 82-74 winners to set up a local clash with Houghton.
A much changed Sunderland squad put in a creditable performance against their neighbours with both away rinks putting in a good shift.
T h e qu a r tet o f G e o rge Brown, Keith Hopper, Joe F l ett a n d Te r r y To d d d i d well to hold Peter Harding to a 15-15 draw.
T h e n M i c h ae l Wr i g ht , B i l l y H ea r n e, Jo h n Jo n e s and Tommy Jopling recovered from 18-7 down to only finish 20-17 down against To m Patt e r s o n , l e av i n g Houghton with with a three shot advantage.
At Crowtree however the quicker surface saw both Sunderland squads enjoy good victories.
R i t c h i e M c k i e, Pe t e r Brickle, Ray Robinson and Billy Ferry ran out comfortable 32-12 winners over Billy Storey.
M i c h ae l L ayd o n , V i c Avery, Gary Farquhar and Bobby Graham then defeated Tom Ainslie by a 28-15 scoreline to leave Sunderland thirty three shots to the good and seal a 92-62 victory overall.
T h at w i n f o r S u n d e r - land set up a fourth round tie against North Cave.
Against North Cave, despite the annual December boiler thermostat failure at Crowtree leaving the bowls h a l l f re ez i n g , b oth h o m e squads managed to return winning cards.
Bobby Graham’s quartet
with Terry Todd drafted in at two recorded a 29-13 victory, while an unchanged Fe r r y r i n k g r o u n d o u t a h a rd - foug ht 2 1 -1 8 w i n to leave the home leg nineteen shots to the good.
Down at North Cave despite a two hour trek both away squads put in cracking performances.
Pete Thomson’s rink of Joe Flett, Vic Avery and Patrick Thomson ran out 22-14 winners.
Ke i th H o p p e r, B i l - ly Hearne, John Jones a n d To m my Jo p l i n g th e n s n ea ke d h o m e by a te n s e and hard-fought 18-16 margin to leave the away squad ten shots up and set up a last sixteen encounter against fo r m e r wo rl d c h a m p io n and current England international Billy Jackson’s Lincoln.
Due to the 150 mile ruli n g i t wa s a g re e d th e t i e would take place at a neutral venue in York.
Sadly it was a step to far in the competition as the Wearsiders’ run came to an end as they were well beaten by forty four shots.
All four Sunderland r i n k s w e re d e f e at e d a l - though at the half way mark the Crowtree outfit were actually only three shots down only to collapse in the second half.
K e i t h H o p p e r, B i l l y
H ea r n e, Jo h n Jo n e s a n d Tommy Jopling were beaten by a 21-14 margin before Michael Laydon, Terry Todd, Gary Farquhar and Bobby Graham also lost out by a 20-11 scoreline.
Peter Thomson’s quartet of Joe Flett, Vic Avery and Pat Thomson went down 2312 while Phillip Dixon, Peter Brickle, Ray Robinson and Billy Ferry were well beaten 29-12.
In the women’s equivalent competition, the Yetton Trophy, the weather played havoc with the early rounds.
S n ow fo rc e d Su n d e r - land’s tie against Durham to be cancelled and then when the area secretary insisted th e t ie wa s p l aye d w i th i n
four days, Sunderland had to scratch which saw them drop into the Yetton Plate and a trip to Penrith.
Sadly a combination of the weather and a lack of enthusiasm to fore fill the fixture saw the club default the tie.
Back in the Yetton Trophy Houghton lost to South Shields by twelve shots and were then were thumped 115-61 in the Plate by Newcastle.
In the men’s Liberty Cup, h o l d e r s Du rh a m c ra s h e d out o f th e c o m p et i t i o n i n the first round following a 132-101 defeat at Carlisle by a strong Cumbrian outfit.
Prior to the game the Durham squad were beset w i t h w i t h d r awa l s w h i c h played a major factor in the defeat and ultimately paid the price.
T h e w o m e n ’s c o u n t y team were also beaten by Cumbria in the first round 153-90.
At the National Championships the Stanley based Gary Smith (pictured above) missed out on the national singles title, in the final the former Sunderland star was beaten 21-16 by Greg Harlow.
A n at i o n a l t i tl e d i d re - turn north , i n the over 60’s pairs The Park’s Brian Houghton and Michael London were crowned national champions after a 20-7 win over Wey Valley’s Dave Clark.
T h e re wa s s o m e l o c a l success in the Hartlepool Ladies Masters pairs as Houghton’s Betty Johnson and Jenny Smith lifted the title.
After progressing th roug h th e rou n d rob - i n s ta ge u n b eate n th e Houghton duo defeated Eldon Squares Ann Wilkinson and Dorothy Gray 14-4 in the final.
It wa s a l s o th e s ea s o n t h at f o l l o w i n g t h e E I BA’s d e c i s io n to s c rap th e u npopular option giving the jack away rule Bowls England would also revert back to the old rule.