D Taylor

Last updated 01:00, Thursday, 21 June 2007

bowls

By David Taylor

CUMBRIA’S Alsop side followed up their excellent opening win over Lancashire with another comprehensive victory over Yorkshire at Edenside on Saturday.

The team won 120-93 and in the process picked up 18 of the 22 points available.

Cumbria made a good start and led virtually throughout on a green which despite the adverse weather conditions earlier in the week played quite well.

Rupert Cox was Cumbria’s top scorer winning 22-10 against P Webster while Anthony Little was just behind in beating Alwyn Baron 26-15.

Alan McGuiness was another double figure winner getting the better of T Richardson 20-10 and Cumbria’s winning list was completed by Alan Green who got home by two against S Laughter.

Peter Metcalfe went down by three to G Eagles and after a poor start Henry Stewart went down by five to K Tyreman.

The win puts Cumbria in a strong position for whilst Northumberland head the table two points in advance of Cumbria, we have a game in hand and in this sort of form must have every chance of going ahead of them when the teams meet at Benfield on Saturday July 7.

Cumbria’s Armstrong side has also made a bright start to the season and will be looking to move to the top of the table when meeting Northumberland at Aspatria on Saturday.

Durham currently head the table on 20 points but have played a match more than Cumbria who are on 17.

Northumberland took 14 points from their opening game and a win for Cumbria on Saturday would them in a strong position for the games against Yorkshire and Durham.

The bad weather has caused problems in the Middleton Cup with Durham having to postpone last Saturday’s game because they were unable to find a green which was playable.

To date no agreement has been reached on the re-arrangement which at this stage of the season is always likely to be difficult.

Northumberland now head the northern group after beating Yorkshire 18-4 and by a massive 144-106 shots.

Cumbria’s Juniors made it through to the national semi-final when winning both their games at Kirbymoorside on Sunday.

In the opening game they demolished Lincolnshire 49-23 and followed that up with an excellent eight shot win over Northumberland.

They will play the semi-final at Worthing on Sunday August 19th and I expect them to be in the final on the same day.

The other qualifiers making up the last four are Essex. Somerset and Surrey.

The premier county championship, the singles has now reached the quarterfinal stage and the last eight will battle it out next Friday night at Edenside and Courtfield.

Jonathon Fieldhouse continues to improve and earned his last eight spot by coming from behind to beat John Baird 21-18.

Paul Wallace who reached the semi-final last year also continued his progress when beating Alex Smith 21-19 while 2003 champion Neil Karge earned his place with a 21-18 win over Stephen Walker.

Last years beaten finalist Stephen Farish went through when beating Anthony Little 21-12 and Rick Gallagher one of our most consistent singles players got the better of David Sparrow 21-18.

Indoor national champion Craig Docherty showed that the grass holds no terrors when beating Danny May 21-11 while another consistent performer John Crozier went through when beating Mark Nanson 21-17.

The eighth place goes to Bob Au who defeated Colin Jefferson 21-16. The first four named will play at Edenside and the second four at Courtfield.

The County pairs quarter finalists will be known this evening as the last 16 play off at Silloth, Maryport, Wigton Park and Wigton. Leading contenders include Peck Orchard, Richard Chandler, John Baird, Stephen Farish and Stuart Airey.

The third round of the triples was taking place last night but there were two notable results in the last round. Peter Angood, Ray McGuiness and Jeff Brown beat the well fancied Danny May, Richard Chandler and Stuart Airey while J Woodman of Friars looked like causing something of a shock when leading 20-6 against Rick Gallagher but failed to add to his tally and the Subscription trio nailed them at the end to win 26-20.Good progress is being made in the Two Wood Singles with Peck Orchard, Rick Gallagher, Ken Johnston, Stuart Irwin and Ryan Orchard already through to the quarter finals.

Latest results from the national competitions.

Noel Christopher scored an extra end win over Stephen Walker in the mixed fours on Monday while in the mixed pairs John Wills meets Paul Bannister and Karen Edmondson plays Joyce Hodgson.

In the senior singles Ron McMath plays Ian Wells and the winner of that game will play Bob Dent who beat John Crozier in the previous round.

In the senior pairs Rupert Cox plays David Sampson and Danny Bradburn will face Phil Parsons of Yorkshire.

In the Champion of Champions area final it’s an all Wigton affair as Stephen Farish representing the Park will play Paul Barlow of Wigton.

In the Top Club Subscription are due to meet Workington while in the Two Fours Appleby beat Subscription and will now play Gosforth or Cramlington.

The 43rd Annual Race Week Tournament commences on Monday and again enjoys the generous sponsorship of county vice-president and Funeral Director John Tremble.

Entries are slightly up on last year and the full draws for the first four days play are shown below.

Cumbria v Northumberland - Aspatria Saturday June 23, 2pm: J Barber, P Pattinson, R Au, P Irving. M Hodgson, A Belshaw, R Dalziel, R Phillips. R Baxter, M Little, R Ritchie, A Baxter. M Hodgson, C Allason, M Jackman, D Baxter

Courtfield Race Week Tournament Fours - Monday, June 25: Courtfield 9.30am: Late Entry 1 v J Carey; R Douglas v R Graham; V Hayhoe v M Watson; D McKellar v T Mitchell; K Johnston v R Gallagher; W Milne v G Hastings

Courtfield 11.30am: D Downie v T McLaren; D Clarkson v R Orchard; F Wilson v I Ward; G Allan v M Dewhurst

Courtfield 1.30pm: G Taylor v A Little

Triples Tuesday, June 26 - Courtfield 9.30am: D McKellar v G Allan; E Orchard v D Clarkson; T Mclaren v R Banks; T Mitchell v K Johnston

Courtfield 11.15am: D Johnston v J Lowther; D Downie v A Little; J Lewthwaite v G Hastings; M Watson v R Gallagher; F McKenna v A Ross; R Douglas v R McMath

Subscription 11.00am: R Graham v Late Entry 2; M Dewhurst v I Ward; W Minto v G Taylor; W Milne v R Morris; H Parker v J Brew; V Hayhoe v Late Entry 1

Pairs Wednesday, June 27 - Courtfield 9.30am: R Gallagher v R Douglas; A Ross v D Johnston; J McGree v W Minto; R Dent v R Chandler; E Orchard v P Angood; T Mitchell v T McLaren

Courtfield 11.15am: R Williamson v G Hastings; H Thorburn v M Dewhurst; H Parker v R Morris

Courtfield 1.00pm: R McMath v G Allan; D McKellar v G Graham; J Brew v J Lowther; K Johnston v D Downie

Subscription 9.30am: R Banks v G Gray; Late Entry 1 v G Niven; late Entry 2 v G Vipond; Late Entry 3 v D Clarkson

Subscription 11.30: V Hayhoe v W Milne; J Fieldhouse v E Murray; A Little v J Crozier; A Smith v J Lewthwaite

Singles Thursday/Friday June 28/29 - Courtfield 9.30am: Late Entry 1 v J Tremble; T Taylor v E Orchard; A McAllum v J Fieldhouse; A Little v I Middleton

Courtfield 11.15am: R Gallagher v R Au; S Beattie v C Bain; M Dewhurst v J Crozier; R Morris v J Lewthwaite

Subscription 9.30am: K Johnston v J Lowther; K Harrison v H Reynolds; D Colbourne v H Thorburn; R McMath v A Cannon

Subscription 11.15am: P Wallace v D McKellar; G Braithwaite v D McManus; J Brew v P Angood, T Mitchell v G Allan