Henderson, Bolt and Baker secure spots in semi-finals
Bowls Durham’s county competitions are down to the semi-final stages, apart from the singles, and in the pairs local hopes rest on the shoulders of Seaham Town’s Bryan Henderson Jnr.
His cracking 17-13 win at Dunston against Mal Johnston has set up a semi-final clash with Jarrow West End’s Maurice Dunlop.
However, H end er son’ s run in the triples is at an end after losing 17-14 to Silksworth Pumas’ Paul Baker. In the semifinals Baker will face Dipton’s Michael English.
It was, however, a mixed night in the fours for the Pumas. The former national champions skipped by David Bolt recovered from 10-2 down at Duns ton against Brett Ark ley to force an extra end and got through 14-12, but Jameswent down 14-13 at home to Spennymoor’s Matthew Glees on. In these mi-finals Bolt will face Blackhall’s Paul Hartley.
There was an unusual finish to the delayed Dairy Lane v Dunston last-16 tie.
With Dunston’s Alan Jobling leading 10-9 against Dan Todner on the final end, with the jack in the ditch and all the bowls delivered, it was deemed a measure for shot.
After much deliberation a set of strings were sent for, but before they arrived Dairy Lane accidently knocked the jack marker from the bank side onto the jack and it moved a couple of inches, meaning they had to default the shot and the game 11-9.
The singles’ last 16 saw Silk sw or th’ s David Bolt beat Hun den’ s Jordan Hars ton 21-10 and last night he was due to face Barnes Park’s Bryan Sanderson in the quarter-finals, the latter receiving a walkover following an administration error by Dairy Lane’s Neil Reid.
Fellow Dairy Lane hope M al Peach beat Leadgate’s David Reed 21-16 to set up a last-eight home clash against Jarrow West End’s Alan Lawton.
Third Dairy Lane hope Alan Hinds lost 21-12 at Lyndhurst against Tom Calder.
The latter stages of the women’s county triples were washed out, and they have been re arranged for Friday, July 30, at Pelt on Fell, from noon.
In the fours an all-Dairy Lane clash saw Joan Rodgerson come out on top 16-8 against Norman Stephenson. Rodgers on receives a bye in the next round and jumps straight into the semi-finals at Dairy Lane on July 28.
The Durham County women’ s Walker Cup squad have secured a place at the regional finals day tomorrow at York R I.
In the preliminary clash against Northumberland at Dairy Lane, both Durham rinks won. Dairy Lane’s Joan Rodgerson cruised to a 2810 win and clubmate Norma Stephenson recovered to get home 23-22. In the morning semi-finals Durham will face Lancashire.
The men’s Alsop Trophy team made it back-to-back wins as they beat leaders Northumberland 16-6 at Gosforth. Durham won on three of the six rinks, with the pick of them being Darlington RA’s David Newman’s 26-11 win.
The Durham lads head to Heaton Hall today to face Lancashire before travelling to D arlington Woodlands tomorrow to face what could bea title decider against Cumbria.
Durham now know they will face Cumbria in the Middleton Cup this time after the Cumbrians beat Northumberland 122-105 at Dairy Lane. Cumbria looked to be cruising for the majority of the game, but a late North um brian charge got the score back to within ten, only for their challenge to fade.
In Sunderland and District, only one game survived the rain in the Earl 4x 4. Barnes Park’s 6½-½ win at Whitburn cemented their third place in the table, but the other two games were washed out.
Five of the six Earl 3x4 games were played, with only leaders H et ton Workmen’ s trip to Hyl ton Collier y Welfare falling foul of the weather.
That left the door ajar for New Herrington to go top, a 6-0 home win over Pemberton sending them four points clear at the top.
There were 6-0 away wins for North Biddick and Houghton Town, and Seaham Town sent Ry hope to the foot of the table with a 5-1 win.
The result of the night saw Thompson Park notch up their first win of the season 5½-½ against mid-table Washington.
In the Swan 4x4, Hought on Dairy Lane’s 7-0 win over Barnes Park extends their lead to 1½ points.
Holders Roker Marine won 6-1 at Thompson Park, while Silksworth Pumas drop to third after Usworth inflicted a 5-2 defeat on them.
Swan 3x4 holders Seaham Town made it five out of five with a5-1 win over Pemberton.
North Biddick sneaked home 4-2 against Hylton Colliery, South Hylton beat Houghton Town 5-1 and New Herrington won 4-2 at Washington.
In the Harold Howey, fourth-placed North Biddick A won a thriller 3-1 at thirdplaced Houghton Dairy Lane A, Hylton Colliery B enjoyed a 4-0 win at Thompson Park and Washington B and Roker Marine A shared the spoils 2-2.
In division two it was a bad day for the top two as both were beaten. Leaders Sea ham Town were stunned as they lost 4-0 at home against South Hylton and second-placed Washington A also went down 4-0 at Hylton Colliery A.
Pemberton A’s 3-1 win at North Biddick B saw them leapfrog their opponents.
Storey Bowl holders Seaham Town maintained their unbeaten record with a 5-2 win at Rok er Park, but second placedCollier y Welfare managed to close the gap by a couple of points following a 7-0 victory over Thompson Park.
The semi-finals of the 3-21 knockout triples are usually held at one venue, but to restrict numbers they will be held at two greens, P ember ton and Barnes Park.
It was a night of cup upsets in the semi-finals of the Grindon league’s Tommy Thompson double fours. Holders Silksworth were well beaten at South Hylton 31-19 and Houghton Dairy Lane lost at home to last season’ s runners up, Hyl ton Colliery ,43-41.