Durham’s lads and Lauren bring two national titles north at last!
The long awaited 2019-20 indoor national championships are finally been played at Nottingham, and it has been a tremendous few days for the area as two national titles are returning north.
The first success came in the under-25 double fours, as the Durham County young guns put in a five-star performance to beat Somerset in the final 44-24, with six ends left unplayed.
Both Durham squads recorded wins, the Vipers’ Jaxon McKenna steering Conrad Morrison (Durham), Josh Minto(Vipers)andBryanHenderson (Hartlepool) to an impressive 25-13 win over Jordan Sparey. Jordan Harston, Matthew Gleeson (both Aycliffe), MattyRay(Hartlepool)andthe Vipers’ Josh Halcrow beat Levi Hembrow 19-11 to seal only a second under-25 title for the county, the last being 20 years ago.
Thegoodnewscontinuedin thewomen’ssingles,asHartlepool’s Lauren Mosley landed the title, beating Desborough’s Ellen Falkner 21-13 in the final.
A first last-16 21-12 win over Spalding’s Ruby Hill set up a quarter-final against St Neot’s Michelle Coleman. Mosley eased to a 21-6 victory, before a 21-14 semi-final win over Adur’s Clare Stevens.
This was the Hartlepool star’s first indoor singles title and made up for losing in the final in 2012.
In the men’s event there was disappointment for Hartlepool’s Gary Smith, representingDurhamatthechampionships, after a 21-14 loss to Norfolk’s Wayne Willgress.
There was very nearly a thirdtitleinthemen’stwobowl singles as Hartlepool’s Jonny Forcer narrowly missed out in the semi-finals, losing 21-19 to Lincoln’s Billy Jackson.
The eventual winner was Exonia’s Sam Tolchard, who added the title to his outdoor two bowl success.
The women’s title went to Hornsea’s Holly Baxter after a thrilling21-20winoverDesborough’sEllenFalkner.Thelatter hasannouncedherimmediate retirementfrominternational duty, and has therefore pulled out of the Bowls England Commonwealth Games squad, to
fulfil a long-standing ambition to emigrate to Australia. She has accepted a role working in Australia’s Para Bowls programme.
“Stepping back from my international playing career is oneofthehardestthingsIhave everdone,”shesaid.“Iwillmiss you.”
In the other national titles decided so far, Yorkshire beat Kent 115-93 in the over-60s inter-county final, while the under-25 two rink triples went to Wey Valley after a 39-30 win over St Neots.
Inthemen’sover-60singles, Shields Vipers’ Dave Paterson went out in the last 16 losing to Cotswold’s Dave Howes 21-16.
In the over-60s fours, Stanley’s Brian Harris, Brian Houghton, Ian Peacock and
Dave Webb lost their opener 22-18 against Leicester’s Dave Wilson.
TheDurhamCountyLibertyTrophysquadwillattemptto register title number 12 today as the face Devon in the final.
Durham line up – J.Harston (Aycliffe), C.Boston, M.Squirrell, P.Mosley (all Hartlepool), K.Minnis (Durham), C.Higgins, G.Skipp, V.O’Neill (all Hartlepool), J.Halcrow, J.Mckenna (both Shields), M.Jones (Hartlepool), P.Hartley (Shields), L.Hall (Durham), R.Bewick, B.Henderson, GR.Smith (all Hartlepool), M.Peach, N.Ridley, G.Farquhar, D.Bolt (all Shields), J.Minto (Shields), D.Oram (Houghton), J.Sneller, P.Smithson (both Shields).
Tomorrow, the women’s
Atherley Trophy final will see holders Sussex tackle eighttimechampionsLincolnshire.
In the Top Club, Houghton made a disappointing start to their campaign losing at Stanley. In the singles Peter Brickle lost 21-14, and Joe Sutherland and Dale Oram let slip a 13-7 lead losing the last five ends to go down 14-13 to Derek Craig.
In the triples, Les Taylor, David Armstrong and Jimmy McAdoo were left to rue a slow start. Trailing 10-0 to Michael Laydon, the Houghton trio got backtowithinone,onlytodrop a last-end treble to finish 18-14 down.
The only bright spot came in the fours as Richard Thorpe,KarlArmstrong,TerryTodd andDavidWrightgothome2212.
The remaining inter-club relegation place from the protracted 2019-20 season will most likely be decided tomorrow as Houghton go head to head with Durham in the final game. With Ferryhill already relegated, the remaining place will be filled by the loser of the Houghton-Durham clash.
At Houghton (1pm): M.Baker, D.Armstrong, W.Roberts, P.Brickle, F.Fletcher, S.Tindale, R.Mckie, D.Oram.
At Durham (10.30am): M.Wright, L.Taylor, G.McPheators, P.Thomson JNR, J.Sutherland, TW.Todd, D.Wright, J.McAdoo.
Current standings – Houghton 21½, Great Aycliffe 20½, Durham 20, Ferryhill 4.
There is plenty of seniors action this week – in the outstanding 2019-20 play-offs, Houghton Sancroft travel to Hartlepool on Wednesday (10.30am start). The following daytheyhostStanley(12.30pm)
in round two of this year’s league. On Tuesday, the Gilpin squad get their season under way at home to Hartlepool A (12.30pm).
IntheEnglishAmputeeand Les Autres Bowls Association (EALABA) championships, Stanley’s Stevie Angus just missed out on the singles title.
After qualifying from his group on shots, Angus went on to beat Chris Gray in the semi-finals 14-6 to set up a finalagainstJohnGreaves.Sadly it was not to be for the former Sunderland player, as Angus went down 16-10 in the final.