Bowls: Barnes Park move top in Harold Howey Trophy as leaders Roker Marine slip up

Division One leaders Roker Marine A went down 30-28 (3½-½) at Ryhope B, allowing 2012 champions Barnes Park B to go top after a comfortable 45-19 (4-0) win at South Hylton.

Hetton Workmen rose to second spot after beating Washington B 41-28 (3-1), while Roker Park’s 29-24 (3-1) win at Hylton CW B leaves them third.

Back to back defending champions Barnes West End were beaten 36-31 (3½-½) at Silksworth, while Seaham Town moved fourth with a 34-24 (3-1) success against Houghton Dairy Lane A.

There was better news for Dairy Lane’s B squad as they defeated North Biddick A 47-22 (4-0), while Whitburn notched their first win, 38-35 (3-1) against Ryhope A.

In Division Two, North Biddick B maintained their impressive unbeaten start with a 32-20 (4-0) win over Houghton Town.

Sunderland B moved second with an impressive 37-17 (4-0) triumph against New Herrington, while South Hetton collected their first win with a cracking 37-28½ (3-1) success over Pemberton B to move into the top half.

The third round of Storey Bowl fixtures saw leaders Roker Park make it three wins out of three with a 77-58 (6-1) defeat of Hylton CW.

Holders Seaham Town bounced back from a defeat to claim a 90-49 (7-0) win at Pennywell, while Hetton Workmen’s cruised to a 94-43 (7-0) win over bottom-of-the-table Thompson Park.

Today, last season’s top two clash as Seaham Town host Hetton Workmen. Hylton CW welcome Pennywell and Thompson Park chase a first win at home against Houghton Town. Leaders Roker Park and Wearmouth have byes.

In the Earl Cup, holders Silksworth crushed Houghton Town 108-25 (6-1) but are still a point behind early leaders Houghton Dairy Lane, who secured a cracking 68-59 (5-2) win at Roker Marine.

Barnes Park beat Hetton 72-66 (5-2) and Barnes West End enjoyed a trip to Usworth, running out 76-43 (7-0) winners. Hylton CW claimed their first win, 78-64 (5-2) at Seaham Town.

Sunderland are the early Division Two leaders after they beat Whitburn 67-45 (7-0). Grindon Mill beat Roker Park 67-49¼ (7-0), while Thompson Park completed a third win 77-49¼ (5-2) at Pemberton.

North Biddick eased to a 64-48 (7-0) win at South Hylton, while Washington defeated Ryhope 63¼-56 (6-1).

Swan Cup holders Houghton Dairy Lane remain unbeaten after defeating Barnes Park 56-48 (5-2), while Silksworth survived a scare as they narrowly beat North Biddick 72-71 (4½-2½).

Seaham Town recorded their first win, 75-49 (5½-1½) against South Hylton, while Hetton Workmen’s are searching for their first win after a 78-49 (6-1) loss at Barnes West End.

Grindon Mill remain unbeaten in Division Two after beating Houghton Town 99-46 (7-0).

Roker Park hit a ton last week, but this time they went down 66-56 (6-1) at Washington, while Pemberton lost their third game on the trot, 53-49¼ (5-2) to Hylton CW.

Thompson Park had a good away win 79-43 (7-0) at Ryhope.

The draw for the Silver Jacks and Burkett Shield have been sent to all club secretaries.

Anyone not received a copy is requested to contact Jim Huntingdon.

In the Jacks, Hetton’s Peter Harding and John Purdy will open their defence at home against Silksworth’s Jaxon McKenna and Billy Ferry.

In the Burkett, defending champion Phil Dixon (Silksworth) hosts Barnes West End’s Bobby Alexander.

The men’s Area Two county singles got underway this week.

Junior singles champion Jaxon McKenna (Silksworth) held his nerve to record a smashing 21-20 win at Roker Marine over Patrick Thomson, while Marine’s Richie Mckie also secured a 21-20 victory at Dairy Lane against Alan Hinds.

Silksworth enjoyed five more victories. Josh Halcrow overpowered West End’s Frankie Froud 21-9 and Jimmy Richardson steamrollered last season’s county semi-finalist Peter Hudspeth (Dairy Lane) 21-2.

Neal Ridley had an impressive 21-6 win at Sunderland, while Gary Farquhar came out on top 21-18 at Dairy Lane against Ron Dixon, and Adrian Dalzell beat A. Constable 21-12 at Grindon Mill.

Barnes West End’s Brian Sanderson enjoyed his trip to Roker Marine, beating Keith Ford 21-8, while Dan Todner won an all-Houghton affair 21-18 against Ray Robinson.

Marine’s John Smith beat Silksworth’s Peter Brickle 21-9 while Peter Thomson received a walkover against club-mate Stevie Don.

Last year’s county champion of champion, Dairy Lane’s Ken Briscoe, had a good 21-17 win at Silksworth against Gary McPheators.

In the county pairs, Grindon Mill’s Alan Patterson enjoyed a cracking 29-7 win over Dairy Lane’s Ray Robinson, while Silksworth’s Paul Baker won the battle of the Bakers 46-9.

Marine’s Peter Thomson was a good 27-10 winner at Dairy Lane against Ron Dixon, but Dairy Lane’s Ian Whorlton progressed with a hard-fought 17-15 victory over Marine’s Mel Waites.

The star match saw Silksworth’s Shaun McIntosh beat Dairy Lane’s Mal Peach 21-13, while Barnes Park’s Albie Hill had a smashing 19-16 win at Marine against Richie Mckie.

Hill next hosts the defending county pairs champions, Silksworth’s Gary Farquhar and David Bolt.

Barnes West End’s Gary Wallace made home advantage count with a 23-18 win over Silksworth’s Gary McPheators.

The triples starts on Thursday, with Silksworth’s Josh Halcrow, beaten county finalist last year, entertaining Roker Marine’s Richie Mckie.

There are a couple of Dairy Lane v Silksworth ties. Joe Sutherland takes on Neal Ridley and Jimmy McKinney hosts Paul Baker, while an all-Marine affair sees Stevie Don and Peter Thomson clash.

Billy Ferry goes head to head with Silksworth club-mate Peter Brickle, while former Sunderland player Ian Whorlton returns to Ashbrooke to face Dennis New.

The two-bowl singles springs into life on Friday with nine ties taking place.

Ken Briscoe (Dairy Lane) hosts beaten county finalist Patrick Thomson (Marine), while Phil Dixon and David Bolt have an all-Silksworth clash. Bolt is out to win the only county title to elude him so far.

The ladies’ county triples and fours continued this week.

Hetton Workmen’s Norma Stephenson booked a last-eight triples spot with a 20-7 win over Sunderland’s Janet Sykes. Dairy Lane’s Joan Rodgerson eased past Hetton’s Evelyn Barkes 30-4 and will face Woodland’s Ann Anderson on Monday.

Sunderland’s Lorraine Breheny disappointingly losing out 15-14 to Pelton Fell’s O. Brown.

Local interest in the fours ended in the quarter-finals when Dairy Lane’s Joan Rodgerson lost 19-14 to Stockton’s Teresa Parnell. The semi-finals and final will take place at Bishop Auckland on Wednesday (10am).

The ladies’ Durham County squad suffered an opening defeat in their Northern Counties campaign.

Despite having two rinks up and a draw, Durham went down 126-108 (7½-2½) at York Railway against Yorkshire.

Hetton’s Norma Stephenson was one of the winning skips (23-16). The other game in the group saw Cumbria beat Northumberland 111-104 (8-2),

The Durham County Muras squad get their 2018 campaign underway today at Dairy Lane against Yorkshire.

Last season, a loss to Yorkshire in the final group game proved costly, allowing Northumberland to take the Northern Counties Muras title.

With several regulars missing, there are plenty of opportunities to stake a Middleton Cup place. The squad has been selected but there are sure to be a few changes.

Team: J Harston (Hundens), M Gleeson (Spennymoor), K Burton (Darlington RA), J Halcrow (Silksworth); S Baker (Silksworth), P Sainthouse (Silksworth), M Higgins (Old Boys), C Boston (Stockton); M Peach (Houghton DL), D Paterson (Silksworth), L Maughan (Old Boys), G Farquhar (Silksworth); P Dixon (Silksworth), N Ridley (Silksworth), C Jefferson (Silksworth), I Riches (Silksworth); M Hodgson (Stockton), A Ward (Owton Lodge), I Jackson (Hartlepool Park), J Mansfield (Hartlepool Park); J Richardson (Silksworth), J Deverson (Silksworth), R Mckie (Roker Marine), D Oram (Hartlepool Park)

Reserves: D Bolt (Silksworth), J Mckenna (Silksworth), S McIntosh (Silksworth), V Rewcastle (Darlington RA), S Cairns (Silksworth), G Cockerill (Stockton), P Hudspeth (Houghton DL)

Tomorrow, the County Under-25s will look to make progress in the double fours as they travel to Gosforth to face Northumberland. The squad has been selected, but there may be changes due to availability issues.

Team: J Mckenna (Silksworth), S Patterson (Hetton), J Deverson (Silksworth), J Halcrow (Silksworth); J Harston (Hundens), M Gleeson (Spennymoor), K Burton (Darlington RA), B Henderson (Seaham Town)

In the national mixed pairs, Silksworth’s David Bolt moved into the second round after a 21-6 win over Stockton’s Lauren Mosley.

Bolt awaits the winner of the clash between Mark Hodgson (Stockton) and Anne Bernard (Newton Hall).

In the family pairs, Silksworth’s Scot and Paul Baker defeated Northallerton’s Anthony Margerrison and will head to Middlesbrough next to face Vinnie O’Neill.

This year’s Home International Series and British Isles Championships will take place at Leamington Spa in late June.

With free entry to the four-day bonanza, it is an ideal opportunity to catch Silksworth’s David Bolt on the international stage. The international series takes place on Saturday and Sunday, June 30-July 1.