GNicholson

Last updated 01:00, Thursday, 05 July 2007

ENGLAND are again top of the Home International tree following an exciting win over Scotland at Edinburgh on Sunday – and three Cumbrians played key parts.

After dismal performances in 2004 and 2005 when they were wooden spoonists, England gave notice at Wigton last year that they were on the way back and they continued that improvement in Scotland last week.

Despite losing the opening match against Wales, they beat Ireland in the second game to set up a showdown with the auld enemy.

Scotland started favourites for the game, needing only six points to take the title but England showed the greater resolve in a grand finale.

Andy Thomson went down by seven to Grant Logan but Graham Shadwell beat David Peacock 19-10. Ian Bond, with Cumbrians Craig Docherty and Stuart Airey at the front of his rink, gave England an advantage when beating Darren Burnett 23-13 and Mark Walton then had a 23-14 win over Colin Mitchell.

The game and the series rested on the clashes between Wigton’s Stephen Farish, below, and Ian Campbell, and Robert Newman versus the legendary Willie Wood.

Farish led by two after 18 ends but then dropped a two before picking up a two and then conceding a single on the last to win by one.

On the other rink, Robert Newman led by one after 18 ends but then lost a single and a three before silencing a the home crowd by scoring a four on the final end to win the game and the series for England.

Armstrong Trophy: After losing to Northumberland, Cumbria’s Armstrong side got back on track at Wigton Park on Saturday by beating Durham 16-2.

Robin Phillips again emerged as Cumbria’s leading skip when beating B Hodgson 29-12, while Andrew Baxter beat J McAdoo 23-13.

David Baxter also won by ten shots against S Vardy. Cumbria’s only defeat was suffered by team manager Peter Irving, who went down by four shots, lost on the penultimate end, against A Mather.

It was a better performance which puts the team in second place, nine points behind Northumberland, although the defeat at Aspatria looks likely to have cost us our chance of the title.

Alsop Trophy: Cumbria’s Alsop side has a realistic chance of winning the trophy and will go into Saturday’s game at Benfield, Northumberland knowing a good win will virtually put the home side out of contention.

Northumberland are just two points ahead of Cumbria but have played a game more, leaving Durham is the more likely dangersm just two points behind Cumbria, having also played just two games. They face Lancashire at Houghton Dairy Lane this week and it seems likely that Cumbria will need a good result if they are to have a fighting chance when they meet Durham in the final match at Darlington on August 4.

Middleton Cup: Cumbria’s Middleton side travel to Gosforth on Saturday for the vital second group game knowing that Northumberland require fifteen points for certain qualification. On recent performances this would seem unlikely but Cumbria go into this game slightly under strength and there have been some enforced positional changes which is unfortunate bearing in mind the sides excellent display at Wigton in the opening game.

Stuart Bowman, Craig Docherty and Ben Sherwen are all unavailable and their places are taken by Rick Gallagher, David Gregory and Robin Phillips. It is not an ideal situation but basically Cumbria need to win this game and there is still a very good chance of that.

Assuming the best the final game against Durham will be played the day after at Houghton Dairy Lane . Should the worst happen on Saturday there would be little point in completing the fixture against Durham on Sunday and a decision will be taken after the Northumberland game.

Courtfield Race Week: The annual tournament did not enjoy the best of weather but on the whole the green played at a good pace and there was some good bowling. The final of the pairs went right to the wire with Michael Downie and John Baird of Subscription picking up a brace on the last end to beat Stuart Begg and Eddie Murray of Annan by a shot.

The singles had the worst of the weather on Thursday but things had picked up for the semi-finals on Friday where Anthony Little accounted for Ray Morris who had some notable scalps on Thursday and David McManus, who had played successfully all day in the Mixed Triples, beat Ken Johnston.

The final proved to be an entreating affair with both Little and McManus playing a number of well judged conversion shots and the pair were evenly matched for much of the way.

At 14 all however Little looked to have taken a decisive advantage when scoring five shots in three ends to lead 19-14 but McManus was not to be denied and struck back with scores of 2-3-2 to take the title.

County Competitions: The quarterfinals of the pairs are taking place this Friday at Courtfield and Edenside.

At Courtfield Arnie Wilson meets Richard Chandler and J Baird will play David Beattie while at Edenside Frank Mckenna meets Stephen Farish and Will Strong plays Stuart Airey.

The singles semi-finals between John Crozier and Rick Gallagher and Neil Karge and Paul Wallace will take place at Wigton Park on Friday week and it is possible that the Under Singles final could be played at the same time though this has to be confirmed.

Carliol League: In the Carliol league last Thursday the West End v Holme Head game was the only one completed with victory going to the visitors 6-4.

In the Over 60’s competition continues to be fierce. West End have moved into top spot on 62 points from ten games having beaten Dalston 8-2 and Currock 10-0 in a rearranged game.

Subscription is in second place with 57 points from nine games after beating Linton 9-1.

Currock who have played ten games move into third spot on 57 points after beating Edenside 6-4.

Courtfield occupy fourth place after beating Wetheral 6-4 and have 56 points from nine games while Stanwix have moved into fifth place following a 10-0 win over Railways and have 56 points from their ten games.

Wetheral are in sixth place with 55 points from ten games

Cumbria v Northumberland, Saturday July 7, 2pm Middleton Cup

D May, S Beattie, M Nanson, S Airey. D McManus, M Irwin, S Irwin, N Currie. K. Harrison, R Gibson, P Barlow, S Farish. JA Bell, D Gregory, N Karge, R Gallagher. D Forster, E Orchard, R Phillips, JN Bell. S Walker, J Baird, I Airey, R Chandler

Cumbria v Northumberland, Saturday July 7, 2pm Alsop Trophy

W Bateman, R Litt, H Stewart, C Phillips. P Bannister, B Fieldhouse, D Neale, P Metcalf. L Kelly, T Kelton, A Prince, A Little. B O’Hare.

G Robson, B Ditchburn, R Cox. J Lowther, R Irving, D Blackmore, A McGuiness. D Cannon, R Dent, V Emmerson, I Wells. Reserve: B Warren