Sancroft seniors set for quarter final test against Darlington A
The Houghton Sancroft seniors tackle Darlington A on Thursday (12.30pm) in the seniors inter-club play-offs.
Sancroft's win over Gateshead secured top spot in their group and ensured a home quarter-final tie. Sancroft are unbeaten this season while the D arlington outfit have only won once on their travels.
Sancroft squad J.Sutherland, C.Young, P.Brickle, D.Oram, M.Wright, R.Jobling, D.Wright, F.Froud, J. S win ney,T. Jo icey,F. Fletcher, I.Whorlton.
The play-off semi-finals and final are due to take place on April 7/8 but these will be re arranged should San croft get through due to them being in action at Nottingham on the same day. Quarter-final line up–Ayc li ffev Stanley, Ferry hill 4-1 Durham B, San croftv Darlington A, Hartlepool B vD arlington B.
A mixed Houghton team play hosts to the Durham HVP's tomorrow (1pm) with the following team: M. God frey, E.Barkes, D.Surtees, J.Godfrey, M.Wright, R.Bixley, D.Robson, B.Robson, S.Farrell, I.Whitfield, R.Potts, R.Johnson, J.Watt, M.Bolton, F.Phythian, K.Armstrong, E.Morris, W.Race, D.Armstrong, K.Morris, C.Martin,J.Wilcock,J.Wilcock, P.Martin.
The final standings in the women's inter-club have been confirmed, South Shield's 9-1 final win over Gates head securing the title with Hough ton finishing third.
Hough ton men will wrap up theirinter-clubcampaignnext weekend as they take on leaders Darlington. Both sides will be looking to bounce back from defeats in their last games; leaders Darlington will secure the title if they collect more than seven points from the clash.AtHoughton-M.Wright, R.Johnson, D.Wright, F.Froud, M.Baker, C.Brown, S.Tindale, AJ.Dunn. At Darlington - J.Sutherland, P.Brickle, D.Todner, D.Oram, F.Fletcher, D.Armstrong, G.McPheators, J.McAdoo.
The team to represent Durham County women in the Atherley Trophy final against Sussex at Nottingham has been selected: J.Hewitson, I.Weatherson, T.Fairless, J. Robinson, S. Young, J. Bur re ll, A.Ritchie (all Aycliffe), M.Hall, N.Stephenson (both Houghton), P.Charleton, T.Barkess, E.Horan, J.Brown, S.Neely, F.Slinn, A.Stafford, L.Gallagher, C.Budd (all Durham), JS.Tallack, M.Charles, A.Upsall, P.Carlin, M.Tindale (all Shields). The final takes place on April 2 at 1.30pm.
The remaining national area two finals have been completed. Hartlepool’s Albert Ward qualified for the latter stage soft he over -60 pairs after beating Gates head’ s Ronnie Richardson 16-12 in the area final. Ward’s hopes of a area final double in the over-60 fours were dashed when well beaten 22-8 by Gateshead’ s Brian Orr ell. In the women’ s over -50 trip les, Aycliffe’s Julie Robinson booked a trip to Nottingham after beating Durham’s Eileen Horan 24-14.
Next weekend could be a glorious weekend for the region when two clubs go for national glory as the national championships get underway at Nottingham. Shields Vipers will be looking to land the Top Club title; they take on Egham in the semi-final, the winner facing either h older sExo ni a or Norfolk. In the mixed Egham Trophy, Hartlepool will be attempting to secure a first title as they take on Whiteknights in the final.
The Vipers’ former England international Paul Hartley will get his national singles title attempt underway with a tricky last 16 tie against Alfreton’s Ashley Clipston.
There is a chance for the local bowls scene to watch some of the UK’ s top stars as the newly-re invented UK Open will take place at Stanley on March 31 to April 2. The WBT top 16-ranked players will take to the green against 11 qualifiers and four overseas players and a sponsor’s invite. The qualifiers will come from a three-day event prior to the main tournament starting March 28; it is free admission for those three days, £2 all day for the main UK Open event.
There is more sad news to report for the local bowls scene as Ryhope’s Win Lightfoot (85) passed away. A former county player at both indoor and outdoor level, Win went on to become the SWBA treasurer and serve on the executive council, and will be sadly missed.
As the outdoor season approaches, plans are in place for sprinkler systems to be installedat all the council-owned greens; apparently the funding is in place and tenders are currently being submitted.
The draw for the Grindon League Tommy Thompson double fours sees holders Hylton Colliery Welfare host Usworth in the only first-round tie: Silk s worth P um asvWh it burn, SouthHy lt onvHyl ton CW or Usworth, Ryhope v Houghton DL, Pemberton v Barnes Park.
The various men’s county fixtures have been confirmed; Durham County A will open up their Muras campaign at Dunnington against Yorkshire on May 21, the now-traditional double header being hosted by Northumberland, where Durham will play the hosts then Cumbria. The B team get their Alsop campaign underway with a first trip to Rothbury as they take on Northumberland on June 25, and over the next three weekends they face Lancashire at Woodlands, Yorkshire at Dairy Lane and Cumbria at Courtfield.
The various Bowls England club competitions will be made on April 1; in order to cut down on the number of round sat the national finals, clubs around the country were asked if they wanted to volunteer and host some regional finals, with Blackhall chosen to host the mixed pairs and mixed fours on August 13/14.