Dent and Dodds untouchable as Amigos lose season opener

It was start of term for the 36 teams venturing forth in the Sunderland and District League, and it was a Division One baptism of fire for newlypromoted East Boldon Amigos who struggled to contain an onsong Backspin.

Thehometeam’sJamieDent dispatched Neil Wilkinson and Jordan Dove, but both Amigos went within a whisker of forcing deciders, Dent snatching the respective fourth ends, 1412 and 11-9.

Troy Maddison was also pushed by David Byers, but Backspin’s Dent and Dan Dodds were untouchable.

A whitewash appeared almost inevitable when Maddison went 2-0 up against Wilkinson, but the resilient Amigos captain salvaged a consolation point with a fight-back to take the decider 11-6.

The match between St Gabriel’s A and St Chads was a much tighter affair as Tony Gelder and Tom Bainbridge helped the home team motor ahead, convincingly taking early tussles, Gelder over Dave Bissett, and Bainbridge over Baines.

Although Bissett reversed that trend by disposing of Bainbridge, Gelder’s fifth-end triumph over Barry Cuthbertson put Gabriel’s in control.

However, Chads rallied spectacularly, the turnabout culminating in an 11-8 lastgasp victory for Baines against Gelder to achieve a 6-4 win.

An equally close encounter was played out at West CA where Bernie Morris, Ken Lee, and Tom Fowle notched two apiece in a 6-4 victory over Durham City Aces.

A 3-0 lead was established as Morris, Fowle, and Lee beat Ian McAllister, Duncan Fraser, and Jonathan Mawson respectively.

A pivotal set saw a display of fighting quality by Lee (who trailed 2-0) to overhaul Fraser 11-3 in the fifth.

The West trio were denied hat-tricks as McAllister (2) and Fraser rescued consolation points.

Elsewhere, Brandon Air deflated True Roof Direct by taking early five-end thrillers.

Lee Tinkler beat Maurice Cheek 11-3 before both Jamie Lupton and Geoff Salter staged dramatic comebacks. Lupton pipped Shirley Gelder 11-9, and Salter brushed off Steven Penman 11-7.

In Division Two, Durham City Bombers enjoyed an 8-2 triumph over relegated Old England Nomads.

Two crucial five-enders went Bombers’ way, as Kevin Richardson saw off Brian Bateman (11-9), and Ian McPherson overcame Ken Clarke (11-7). Daniel Hutchinson’s maximum put the stamp on a sorry return to the lower tier for Nomads.

There were close games aplenty at West C, but Silksworth IM came away with an 8-2 victory thanks to Bob Sanderson (3), Howard Brown (3) and Alan Bickle (2).

At Redby, Jamie Westwater and Richard Karczewski trebles provided the knock-out combination to give Unionist Club B a 7-3 win.

One of the closest contests in Division Three saw Henderson Leisure overcome Backspin D 6-4 as Ryan Morton’s treble and Paul Henderson’s brace proved enough.

Brandon Devils flexed their muscles as Tony Taylor, John Foster, and Ian Cumpson inflicted a 10-0 loss on Lanchester Eagles B.