Double success for bowlers in the Durham County finals
The Bowls Durham County finals were held at Houghton Dairy Lane last weekend with two titles won by local players.
In the blue riband singles final, Seaham Town’s Mark Higgins, in his first outdoor county final, held his nerve to beat Darlington RA’s Liam Macey21-18. This was not only Higgins’ first county success but also a first for the Seaham Town club.
The second local success came in the triples, when Silksworth Pumas’ David Sykes, Gary Farquhar and David Bolt ground out a 19-14 win over Dunston’s Alex Bryden. This was a first county title for Sykes while a second triples success for Farqu ha rand third for Bolt.
The Dunston club’s success rate in the finals continues to impress, in the pairs Tony Humphries and Alan Jobling eased home past Darlington RA’s Mark Jones and Colin Boston 25-7. A second Dunston win came in the final of the two bowl singles, holder AlexBry den defended his title with a 19-8 win over Jar row West End’s Maurice Dunlop. This success for Bryden was small consolation after the trip les loss and a fours loss. The D arlington RA quartet of V in ni eRew castle, John Hills, Tony and Liam Macey ran out 19-14 winners in the fours.
The senior fours also went to Darlington RA, in a classic final, John Hills, Dave Newman, Mark Jones and John Lynch beat Leadgate’s Garry Robson 17-16.
The junior finals saw S penny mo or’ s Jordan Harston lift the singles title for the first time, beating Darlington South Park’ s Li am Bro die 21-12.
In the junior pairs final, Darlington South Park’s Alex Wood led in for the Pumas’ Josh Halcrow in the win over Pelton Fell’s Brendan Fraser.
All of the winners now qualify for the nationalLea ming ton Spain late August early September.
The only county final not to go to Lea ming ton is the county champion of champions, locally Usworth’s Brian Poulter missed out on the title, losing 21-17 against Jar row’ s Maurice Dunlop.
The regional stages of the
Bowls England senior singles takes place at Redcar this weekend, in the men’s event Jarrow West End’s Maurice Dun lop takes on Working ton’ s Michael Sydney.
In the women’s competition, Pelton Fell’s Joan Brown takes on Cleethorpes’ Caroline Cullum. Dairy Lane’s SusanFoster and Joan Rodgers on are also in action as they tackle Benfield’s Pat Browne today in the senior pairs also at Red car.
Tomorrow, Dunston’s Bret Arkley faces Leicestershire’s Joe Dawson in the last 32 of the champion of champions.
There was double disappointment for our local clubs in the Bowls England club competitions,in the top club Silks worth Pumas were beaten 3-2 by Yorkshire-based Spring head Park at Richmond, and in the Tony All cock double mixed fours, Dairy Lane were beaten 44-20 by Lincolnshire-based Shires.
There is still, however, local interest in the family pairs as Sea ham Town’ s Car land Mark Higgins beat Gosforth’s Steven Harvey 25-18 to set up a last 16 tie against Dr if field’ s Nick Cl eve ley, the winners will head to Leamington Spa for the latter stages.
Houghton Dairy Lane took a big step in securing the Grind on League title, a 4-1 win at Hylton Colliery Welfare, coupled with Usworth’s 4-1 loss at P ember ton means Dairy Lane only need to beat winless Ryhope in their final game to finish as champions.
In the Earl Premier, anyone of the top four can still win the title. In the battle of the top two, Dairy Lane beat the Pu mas 5½1½ togo four points clear, while Barnes Park’s cracking 6-1 win at Marine lifts them into third.
The Earl division one leaders Seaham Town lost their unbeaten record as they went down 5-1 at North Biddick, Usworth closed the gap to five points after a 5-1 win over Hough ton Town, the other resultsaw H et ton beat Washington 5-1.
In division two, New Herrington are on the verge of promotion after a 6-0 home win over winless Sunderland
opened up a 13½-point lead at the top and 20 points clear of third placed P ember ton. W hit burn’ s5-1w in at South Hyl ton moves them into the other promotion spot.
The Swan Cup looks like it will go to the wire, the top two both won 6-0, Barnes Park beat Seaham Town to maintain a three-point lead over Dairy Lane who beat relegation thr eaten ed Rok er Marine. North Biddick beat Usworth 5½-½ and Silksworth Pumas beat bottom of the table South Hylton 4-2.
The race for promotion from division two is wide open with only 2½ points covering the top six. New Herrington went top after a 6-0 win over Roker Park, second placed
Hetton Workmen drew at Washington but won 3½-2½ on points and Hylton Colliery are still in the mix after a 5-1 win over Houghton Town.
In the Harold Howey it is nearly time to start the car as holders Barnes Park B maintained their unbeaten record with a 4-0 home win over second placed Roker Marine A. Barnes only need one more win from their last three games to seal a fourth consecutive title. There were 4-0 wins for North Biddick, Dairy Lane A and Seaham Town. In division two Roker Marine B are new leaders, a 4-0 home win over Barnes Park A saw them leapfrog Hylton Colliery. Both Pemberton teams’ promotion hopes suffered, the A team lost 3-1 at Washington A and the B team lost at home 3-1 to South Hetton.
With only two rounds of games left in the Storey Bowl, leaders Hetton Workmen slipped up, a 5-2 loss at New Herrington has cut their lead to just 2½ points. Holders Sea ham Town are back in with a chance after a 6½-½ win at Thompson Park. Bizarrely, however, Hetton could be crowned champions today if results go their way as New Herring ton and Sea ham Town face each other.
The final of the Burkett Shield will feature Silksworth Pu mas J axon McK en na against H et ton Work men’ s Chris Fish.