Houghton commence with victory in inter-club quest
Houghton made a winning start to their 2021-22 interclub campaign, beating Stanley 9-1 (74-56).
At Houghton, both home rinks returned winning cards.
Frankie Froud turned around a 7-2 deficit, thanks to a couple of fives, to beat R. Hen son 20-13, while Dan Todners tee red his quartet to an 1812 win. Those scores secured the home overall points 38-25.
At Stanley, both games were played a few hours earlier than the Houghton leg.
The early start didn’t catch out Dale Oram’s rink of Joe Sutherland, David Armstrong and Steve Tin dale as they raced into a 15-1 lead against Stevie Angus.
Fair play to Angus, however, as it only finished 23-16 to the Houghton squad.
The other Houghton rink, skipped by Jimmy McAdoo, was narrowly beaten 15-13 by Brian Houghton. The away overall went to Houghton, 3631, securing a 9-1 points win overall. Next up is Gateshead on December 19.
In the other game, D arlington beat Great Ayc li ffe 10-0(7443). Holders Hartlepool’ s clash with the Parks was cancelled.
The county seniors bounced back from the disappointing loss to Yorkshire in the over 60s Liberty to whitewash Lincolnshire 22-0 (16077) in their opening Midlands league fixture, played at York.
All six Durham rinks returnedwinning cards. Locally, the Vipers’ Billy Ferry steered Bill Rout led ge( Durham ), Vince Tunstall (Darlington) and Hartlepool’s Mark Jones to a 34-11 win over D. Postner.
Houghton’s Dale Oram matched Ferry’s winning margin with a 32-9 win over G. Pask. Durham's next fixture is again at York, this time against Yorkshire, on January 7.
Houghton Sancroft’s rearranged seniors fixture at Gates head has been cancelled and will be rearranged.
There has been plenty of action in the local stages of this season’s national competitions. In the south section of the singles, it’s Hartlepool all the way.
Mark Higgins ended the hopes of Redcar’s Vinnie O’Neill 21-19 and it was the same score for Glenn Skipp’s win over club mate Matty Ray. Carl Higgins received a bye after club mate Alex Portway conceded.
In the north section, the all-Vipers clash saw M al Peach win a thriller 21-20 against Josh Minto. In another Vipers clash, Phil Dixon beat Josh 21-18.
In the pairs, Gateshead’s Maurice Dunlop had a cracking 19-9 win at Stanley against Derek Craig, while the Vipers’ Gary Farquhar beat Durham’s Jim Hutchinson 20-9.
In the south section, Hartlepool’ s Russell Be wick beat clubmate Matty Ray 16-15 and will travel to Aycliffe next to face Martin Clements.
An all-Hartlepool clash in the fours saw Paul Mosley beat Gary R. Smith 18-15 to set up a tie against club mate Alex Port way. The Vipers’ James Snell er eased to a 22-7 win at Houghton against Frankie Froud. Snell er will face club mate Gary Farq uh ar next. Gateshead’ s Malcolm Johnston beat club mate Alex Bryden 22-10 in the over 60s pairs.
It’s Denny Cup day today and there should be a cracker at the Jack Clark Centre, as the Vipers tackle Cumbria (10 am ), having already lost to the Cum brian sin the Egham and Top Club. The home leg is being live streamed via the Wrong bias and Bowls Sunderland websites.
At Shields – M. Byrne, D. Paterson, J. Sneller, D. Bolt, J. Minto, D. Sykes, S. Hubbard, I. Mcintosh.
At Carlisle – S. Baker, P. Smithson, J. McKenna, P. Hartley, M. Peach, N. Ridley, J. Halcrow, G. Farquhar.
Hartlepool face Hornsea with the winners taking on eithertheVipersorCumbria.In the Denny Plate, Stanley face Gates head, while past winners Darlington take on Selby.
After the Vipers women’s 40-shot win over Hartlepool, they face West Denton this morning in the Yetton Plate.
There is Top Ten action this afternoon as Houghton host the Vipers (2pm).
Houghton squad – G. McPheators, P. Thomson Jr, F.
Froud, J. Sutherland, J. McAdoo, D. Oram, M. Wright, B. Johnson, P. Brickle, A.J. Dunn.
Vipers squad – M. Baker, R. Chapman, R.Cragg, J.Hansell, P. Hart, R. Hunter, L. Sykes, K. Taylor, K. Thompson, W. Upsall, D. Wilson.
On Tuesday, Houghton seniors return to Over 60s double fours action as they tackle West Denton at 10.30am.
At Houghton– M.Wright, T. W. Todd, S. Tindale, I. Whorlton.
At West Denton– J.Sutherland, P. Brickle, F. Froud, D. Oram.
Following last weekend’s international trials, England have named the various international teams.
The Vipers’ Jonny Forcer has been handed the dreaded non-travelling reserve in the men’s team. However, the Hartlepool duo of Devon Cooper and Danielle Martinson have been selected in the women’s team for the series at Belfast in February.
There was more goodnews for Cooper as she has been selected in the Under 26 team as well. That series comes north, as West Denton will host the two-day event in February.
In the men’s Under 26 team, the Vipers’ Josh Halcrow gets his first taste of international action, leading in for Horn sea’s Jack Bird. The series takes place at Ffrith, Wales, also in February.
Sadly, just when the sport was getting back to a bit of normality, the Government has announced the country will be moving to ‘Plan B’ of its Covid-19 guidance, which all indoor clubs will need to implement.
All club members, visitors and staff who have face-toface contact with the public will need to wear a face mask unless exempt through age, health or disability reasons.
The face coverings can be removed when they are on the green playing and when having a drink or a meal. This guidance will remain in place for six weeks, although the Government will review them after three weeks and update on the next steps.