HOUGHTON’S LONG WAIT FOR A WIN IS ON A PLATE

A SUPERB FIGHTBACK SEES HOUGHTON SECURE A LONG OVERDUE VICTORY IN THE DENNY PLATE

Houghton ended a three year wait to record a win in the Denny Plate, with a late comeback against Great Aycliffe.

At the 14-end mark, Aycliffe were 20 shots up and the Plate beckoned.

However, Houghton mounted a cracking fight back that saw them get home albeit by a single shot (74-73).

At Houghton, the rink of Joe Sutherland, David Armstrong, Jimmy McAdoo and Bryan Henderson (Snr) ground out a vital 17-12 win over Stuart Clarke.

However, it was a tough morning for Mal Baker, Tony Grimes, Alan J Dunn and Frankie Froud as they trailed 23-5 against Dave McDonald, but they battled back to finish 25-15 down which left the home squad five shots in arrears.

At Aycliffe, Peter Thomson’s rink of Michael Wright, Stevie Tindale and Colin Young - after trailing 130 - battled back to within five against Paul Payne, but things slipped away and Thomson finished 26-17 down.

The remaining rink of Eric Downes, Richard Thorpe, Trevor Joicey and Richie Mckie collected a momentum changing five on the 15th end to lead 188, and went on to defeat Ian Prentice 25-10 which left the away squad six up and secure a rare Denny win.

In the next round, Houghton and Shields are due to meet each other.

Last season they met in the Plate, with Shields running out winners by 34 shots.

Other local ties saw Hartlepool ease past Stanley 90-37 to set up a clash with Darlington, who defeated Gateshead 91-78.

In the Plate, Durham beat Redcar 79-66 and will face West Denton next, who comfortably beat The Parks 82-37.

Both local sides in this season’s Denny Cup got off to perfect winning starts.

After last year’s Denny Plate success, South Shields made sure they didn’t drop into the Plate with a comprehensive 42-shot win over Thornaby.

At home, both Shields’ rinks ran out comfortable winners, Dave Paterson, Josh Minto, Kris Storf and Ian Riches beat Bill Peirson 25-12 and Neal Ridley, Stewart Hubbard, James Sneller and Ian McIntosh eased to a 25-9 win over David Fairbairn to leave the home squad 50-21 up.

At Thornaby, Scott Baker, Mal Peach, Gary Farquhar and David Bolt defeated Ian Marshall 22-18 and Shaun McIntosh steered Jaxon McKenna, Paul Sainthouse and Josh Halcrow to a 21-12 win over Bill Watson which left the away squad 13 shots to the good and secure a 9351 win.

In the Ladies Yetton Trophy, Houghton had a cracking 92-67 win over Hartlepool to set up a clash against Cumbria in the next round.

At Hartlepool, Margaret Metcalf, Margaret Eggleston, Joan Baker and Ann Banks put in a spirited performance, but still went down 25-12 to Janet Ridpath.

However, that loss was covered by Norma Stephenson’s rink of Maureen Hall, Liz Morris and Audrey Vout, who cruised to a 30-10 win over Kay Liddle, to leave the away leg seven shots in Houghton’s favour.

At Houghton, both rinks recorded wins as Sam Richardson, Ruth Turnbull, Brenda Robson and Jenny Smith never looked back from an early 12-0 lead to finish 26-15 up against J.Wilton.

Joan Watt, Evelyn Barkes, Val Bambrough and Joan Rodgerson recovered from 12-9 down to Dawn Jackson to run out 24-15 winners and seal a 25-shot win overall.

The next round of fixtures in the Top Ten takes place today as Houghton host Stanley. After the whitewash suffered at the hands of Durham, the hosts will be looking to bounce back.

The latest round of County Inter Club fixtures take place tomorrow with both local sides in action.

Houghton face defending champions Gateshead B and South Shields face newly promoted Great Aycliffe. The top two, Hartlepool and Durham, clash, while Darlington have a bye.

In the mixed pairs, South Shields’ David Bolt recorded a second win this time over club-mate Jaxon McKenna and will head to Durham to face Mark Higgins.

Ian Riches won an all Shields affair against Derek Wilson 19-13 and will face another Shields pair after Paul Sainthouse’s cracking 16-14 win at West Denton against Michael Bennett.

Hartlepool’s Paul Hartley continued his winning run and notched his third win with a 20-12 win over Aycliffe’s Peter Barion.

The Bowls Durham AGM takes place on Tuesday at Houghton Dairy Lane (7pm).