Vipers and Houghton succumb to whitewashes on their travels
In the mixed fours another Hartlepoolquartetcarriedthe region’s hopes, sadly there was nodreamtitleforGlenSkippas the home quartet went out in the last 16 19-13, again to Blackpool Newton Hall, this time skipped by Mark Dawes, the title eventually went to Spalding’s Mathew Orrey.
Stanley’s Brett Arkley booked a place at the national pairs championships after beating Hartlepool’s Marc Squirrell 18-6 in the area final.
In the over-60 pairs there was more good news for Stanley as Ian Peacock took an area final place after a hard-fought 17-15 win at Durham against Jimmy Hutchinson.
Gateshead’s Brian Orrell won the over-50s triples area final against Hartlepool’s Dale Oram 24-18.
The two bowl singles area finalwillseeStanley’sBrettArkley tackle Hartlepool’s Jonny Forcer, Arkley secured his place with an impressive 2112 win at Shields against David Bolt.
In the women’s pairs area final Shields’ Nina Riches and Ann Upsall defeated Hartlepool’s Janet Ridpath 22-9.
The Durham County Liberty Trophy squad head to Erewash today to face Cambridgeshire in the semi-finals, JoshHalcrow(Shields)returns to lead for clubmate Paul Hartley.
The county selectors have named an unchanged Under-25squadforthesemi-final also against Cambridgeshire next Sunday in Doncaster.
Fred Knubley (Shields) had acracking21-19winoverFerryhill’sAlanHindstobookaplace inthefinaloftheseniorscounty champion of champions.
LastweekendStanleyhostedtheDisabilityBowlsEngland team,theformatwasseventriples and a pairs with the hosts getting home overall by just eight shots.
On the back of all the work that the Stanley club has done to improve its disabled facilities it was awarded the DBE Merit Mark, the first in the area to achieve the feat.
Houghton return to inter club action tomorrow as they take on bottom of the table Ferryhill, nothing less than a 10-0 win will keep alive hopes of avoiding relegation.
At Houghton (1pm) – M.Wright, TW.Todd, D.Wright, AJ.Dunn, P.Brickle, D.Armstrong, L.Taylor, G.McPheators
At Ferryhill (2pm) – P.Thomson (snr), F.Fletcher, J.McAdoo,D.Oram,E.Downes, S.Tindale,R.Mckie,P.Thomson
Latest Standings – Hartlepool 5-47, Gateshead B 4-24, Stanley 5-24, Durham 4-20, Aycliffe 4-19½, Houghton 4-14½, Ferryhill 4-1
In the seniors inter club Houghton Sancroft’s final group game with Gateshead A takes place this week, the Sancroftladshavealreadysecured a play-off place.
Sancroft – P.Thomson, T.Joicey, D.Wright, F.Froud, J.Sutherland,F.Fletcher, TW.Todd, I.Whorlton, P.Brickle, B.Race, D.Sim, J.Jones