Riches on song as Silksworth double up for progress in triples' county green finals

Four places in the second stage were on offer in the triples, and Silksworth’s Ian Riches eased to a 28-6 win over Roker Marine’s Eddie Cook, while Marine’s Stevie Don defeated Barnes Park’s Albie Hill 25-15.

The other two ties were much closer. Barnes Park’s Kevin Richardson defeated Silksworth’s Kevin Dyson 15-14 and David Bolt won an all-Silksworth affair 19-18 against Billy Ferry.

In the fours, five places up for grabs.

Billy Ferry won a tight all-Silksworth affair 20-18 against Colin Jefferson and Roker Marine’s Richie Mckie sneaked past Silksworth’s Michael Laydon 24-14.

The 2014 national nhampions – Phil Dixon, Neal Ridley, Ian Riches and David Bolt – defeated Sunderland’s Dennis New 23-13, while the other two ties weren’t played as Roker Marine’s Bobby Graham received a walkover when Malcolm Winter’s South Hylton quartet failed to make an appearance and Sunderland’s S. Summers had already been given the tie against Whitburn’s Derek Wilson.

Across all six districts, there have been a total of 36 walkovers, 17 in District 2.

The pairs and singles take the stage at Barnes Park this week.

Tuesday – pairs: W Ferry (Silksworth) v R Mckie (Roker Marine), D Bolt (Silksworth) v M Laydon (Silksworth), J Richardson (Roker Marine) or SBaker (Silksworth) v P Dixon (Silksworth)

Thursday – singles: R Mckie (Roker Marine) v D Bolt (Silksworth) or M Higgins (Silksworth), K Donkin (Silksworth) v N Reid (Silksworth), S Don (Roker Marine) v G Farquhar (Silksworth), C Jefferson (Silksworth) v J Mckenna (Silksworth), P Dixon (Silksworth) v S Baker (Silksworth)

Friday – two-bowl singles: M.Laydon (Silksworth) v J McKenna (Silksworth), P Dixon (Silksworth) v JS Richardson (Roker Marine), B Sanderson (Barnes WE) v N Ridley (Silksworth)

The District 3 singles final will be staged at Seaham Town on Tuesday (6.30pm), with Malcolm Peach up against Dan Todner in an all-Houghton Dairy Lane showdown.

Peach proved too strong for Hylton CW’s Alan Maidment, securing a 21-9 success, while Todner defeated clubmate Ray Robinson 21-11.

District 3 results, singles: M Peach (HDL) 21 A Maidment (Hylton CW) 9, D Todner (HDL) 21 R Robinson (HDL) 11. Final on Tuesday at Seaham Town (6.30pm)

Triples Green Finals (at Washington Glebe on Thursday, 6.30pm): B Henderson (Seaham Town) v J McKinney (Dairy Lane), D Wright (Seaham Town) v D Armstrong (Dairy Lane)

Durham County A were left to rue the previous week’s defeat against Northumberland after notching back to back wins in the Muras Trophy double header last weekend at Redcar.

In the morning fixture against Yorkshire, Durham ran out 103-101 winners, collecting 18 points in the process.

Durham had four winning rinks, with team manager David Bolt securing a 26-12 victory. There were also wins for Silksworth’s Phil Smithson (17-14), Hartlepool’s John Mansfield (15-14) and Darlington’s Barry Hopkins (24-12), while Elm Tree’s Glenn Skipp went down 24-16 and Stockton’s Paul Mosley lost 25-5 but did clinch the overall score with his final bowl.

In the afternoon clash with Lancashire, another good team performance produced an 18-shot win, with Durham collecting 19 points.

Bolt again led the way with a 25-13 win, backed by wins from Smithson (17-12), Mansfield (17-14) and Billy Ferry (21-11), while Mosley played out a draw.

Darlington youngster Noah Cummings suffered the only defeat, 22-10.

Northumberland also won both their games to retain the Muras Trophy by 15 points.

Final standings: Northumberland 57, Durham 42, Yorkshire 23, Lancashire 10

The A team are in action today as they open up their Middleton Cup campaign with the long trip to Manchester to face Lancashire.

Team manager David Bolt has made a few changes to the team.

Durham A: S Baker (Silksworth), A Ward (Owton Lodge), C Boston (Elm Tree), P Mosley (Stockton); V Rewcastle (Darlington RA), N Ridley (Silksworth), M Jones (Darlington RA), J Fielding (Darlington RA); M Peach (Houghton DL), L Maughan (Silksworth), W Ferry (Silksworth), G Skipp (Elm Tree); P Dixon (Silksworth), I Riches (Silksworth), G Farquhar (Silksworth), D Bolt (Silksworth); M Gleeson (Spennymoor), B Hopkins (Darlington RA), P Smithson (Silksworth), A Kirtland (Darlington RA); M Ray (Owton Lodge), K Burton (Darlington RA), I Jackson (Park), J Mansfield (Park)

Reserves: J Ballantyne (Stockton), N Buckley (Darlington RA), S Cairns (Silksworth), N Cummings (Darlington RA), D Fenwick (Elm Tree), M Laydon (Silksworth), G McPheators (Silksworth)

Durham’s B team have a Northern Counties Alsop Cup tie against Yorkshire at Houghton Dairy Lane today.

Spennymoor’s Paul Heath, the team manager, has plenty of local talent in his side.

Durham B: G Dougherty (Park), M Hodgson (Stockton), A Parnell (Stockton), AJ Dunn (Dairy Lane); J Sutherland (Dairy Lane), S Tindale (Dairy Lane), S Land (Spennymoor), D Oram (Park); A Mole (Park), C Howie (Park), R Robinson (Dairy Lane), H Dougherty (Park); J Devison (Sunderland), J Harston (Hundens), J Halcrow (Whitburn), D Todner (Dairy Lane); A Greathead (Park), S Patterson (Hetton WM), J McAdoo (Dairy Lane), A Taylor (Park); A Middleton (Roker Marine), J McKenna (Silksworth), J Wilson (Dairy Lane), A Hill (Barnes Park). Reserves: N Willey (Stockton), V Tunstall (Hundens), S Clarke (Hundens), J Godfrey (Dairy Lane), D Edney (Lyndhurst), P Hudspith (Lyndhurst)

The Ladies’ County A team suffered a setback in their second Northern Trophy matches.

After a cracking 8-3 win at holders Cumbria, Durham were beaten 8-3 by Yorkshire at Darlington Woodlands.

Durham had three rinks up. Dairy Lane’s Joan Rodgerson won 18-14, but Hetton’s Norma Stephenson lost by 12 and Sunderland’s Sue Almond by five.

Despite the loss, Durham are only a couple of points behind the leaders and entertain Northumberland at Horden on Friday.

Latest standings: Cumbria 13pt, Yorkshire 11½, Durham 11, Northumberland 8½

After their County fours title success, Houghton Dairy Lane’s Susan Foster and Joan Rodgerson have notched a second county title, taking the triples with a cracking 23-15 win over Elm Tree’s Ann Simpson at Consett Park.

In the semi-finals, Rodgerson needed an extra end to defeat the host club’s Gill Jones 21-19.

Despite the cold weather, the Sunderland & District leagues continued. With the Earl Cup having a week off, the Swan Cup took centre stage.

In Division One, holders Houghton Dairy Lane made it four wins on the trot with a 6-1 success over Roker Marine, while Barnes West End’s 6½-½ win at North Biddick keeps them second, Silksworth enjoyed a 40-shot win at Thompson Park and Barnes Park inflicted a 6-1 home defeat on bottom club Houghton Town.

In Division Two, leaders Hetton Workmen’s were beaten 5½-1½ by visitors Usworth, while Roker Park defeated Pemberton 7-0.

In the Harold Howey Trophy First Division, there were good away wins for North Biddick A and Seaham Town A against Hylton CW B and Ryhope B respectively.

In Division Two, Pennywell, fresh from beating the leaders, notched another fine win, 3-1 at home to Hetton Park.

Storey Bowl leaders Hetton Workmen remain unbeaten after a 6-1 win over Seaham Town, as do Thompson Park after a hard-fought 5-2 victory at Houghton Town.

Silver Jacks results: K Armstrong (Houghton Town) 11 B Henderson (Seaham Town) 18, C Fish (HM) 11 D Raine (Thompson Park) 18

3-2-1 Triples holders Barnes West End progressed into the next round with a 224-208 win at North Biddick. Next up, they entertain Roker Park.