David Taylor

Last updated 01:00, Thursday, 19 July 2007

SUBSCRIPTION created bowls history on a memorable evening at Wigton on Monday when they became only the fourth club in the last 50 years to provide both Cumbria’s singles qualifiers to go through to the national finals in Worthing next month.

Monday’s four semi-finals on the two Wigton greens attracted excellent attendances, with Rick Gallagher meeting John Crozier and Neil Karge playing Paul Wallace.

Karge, who was county champion in 2003, dominated Silloth’s Wallace and scored a comfortable 21-7 win.

Crozier, the 1993 champion, led Gallagher 11-1 after seven ends. Gallagher, who was county champion in 2002, gradually found his form and after a further seven ends saw the game all square at 11-11.

Crozier picked up two singles to regain the advantage but Gallagher came back to lead 18-16 and then withstood a further challenge from Crozier before going on to win 21-18.

Subscription’s success was not confined to just Wigton Park as over at the Wigton Club, Danny May, Ian Airey, Richard Chandler and Stuart Airey narrowly won a thrilling fours semi-final against Kirkbride’s John Fieldhouse, Scott Beattie, David Beattie and Stuart Bowman.

Susbscription led 16-2 but the Kirkbride quartet pulled back to just two shots down on the final end before Airey won the day.

In the other semi-final, Aspatria looked like making the trip to Worthing when they led by eight shots with just three ends to play.

But Kevin Harrison, Richard Gibson, Mark Irwin and Stuart Irwin were pipped by by George Brewer, Stephen Cook, David Gregory and Ian Williams of Workington.

Williams and his rink engineered a four, a three and a two on the final end to score an exciting one-shot win and earn another trip to Worthing.

The first of the two triples semi-finals at Wigton park last night saw John Wills of Wigton win by two shots.

The other semi-final between Stephen Farish and Anthony Little will be played next Wednesday at Kirkbride.

The two pairs semi-finals are being played this evening, with Ian Airey and Richard Chandler meeting Tony Graham and David Beattie, while Danny May and Stuart Airey play Frank Mckenna and John Hodkin. Both these games will be at Wigton Park.

The semi-final of the two wood singles between Rick Gallagher and David Forster Jnr is being played at Wigton Park tomorrow evening.

If Gallagher wins, the final will be on Sunday but if Forster is successful, it will be later as he will be on junior international duty this weekend.

nLEWIS PARKER, of Silloth, and Ben Sherwen, of Wigton, have both qualified to represent Cumbria at Worthing in the Under-25s singles

Sherwen is more experienced and can make a bid for the title but Parker remains a player with great potential who will benefit from his trip.

nTHE COUNTY FINALS were all due to played at Wigton on Sunday but because of weather and fixture problems as well as possible duplications, it has not been possible to finalise the programme yet.

In the Roland Starkie fours, the final will be between Paul Banister, of Cockermouth Croft, and Stephen Walker, of Whitehaven.

n CUMBRIA’S Middleton Cup quarter-final against Derbyshire takes place at Kirbymoorside in Yorkshire on Saturday.

Both John Bell and Stephen Farish are missing on international duty but Craig Docherty, Ben Sherwen, Paul Barlow and Stuart Bowman all return and Andrew Baxter has been called into the side in the quest for another trip to Worthing.

n ASPATRIA and Silloth A will meet in one semi-final of the Double rink, while Wigton B will play either Seascale or Whitehaven B in the other.

nPLAYING their last match of the season, Cumbria’s Armstrong side beat Yorkshire at Middlesbrough 16-2 and by 48 shots overall.

It was only the very last bowl of the match by the Yorkshire skip which secured their first points via a one-shot win against Bob Dalziel.

Andrew Baxter won his game by one shot on the last end but Peter Irving had a 19-shot win, while David Baxter won by 29.

The destination of the Armstrong Trophy now hinges on the result of the Northumberland versus Yorkshire game at Sumerhill on Saturday week. Northumberland require eight points to go ahead of Cumbria and unfortunately look likely to get them.

Whatever the outcome, team manager Peter Irving thanked all the players, especially the youngsters, who have performed so well and the spectators who have supported the side throughout the season.

nTHE Subscription Men’s Triples tournament scheduled for Sunday July 29 has been brought forward to Saturday July 28 because of the club’s involvement in both the Top Club regional finals at Manchester and the final day’s play in the Wigton Top Nine.

The Tournament is sponsored by Border Steel Structures and anyone wishing to make a late entry should contact Ian Gallagher on 01228-538850.

n LEADERS Subscription had no Carliol League game last week and their nearest challengers Edenside took full advantage by beating British Rail 10-0 to take a five-point lead at the top of table.

Subscription are second with a match in hand, while Courtfield won 8-2 at West End and are third but 19 points adrift of Edenside.

Brampton won at home to Stanwix and Dalston won 8-2 at home to Holme Head.

Meanwhile, The Over-Sixties league continues to be close, West End remaining in pole position despite losing to both Edenside and Linton 6-4.

Linton beat Courtfield 6-4 to keep the Carlisle club in second spot, two points adrift.

Two 8-2 wins in rearranged games for Wetheral kept them amongst the leaders but their 7-3 defeat at British Rail cost them the chance of going top and they are third, two points behind Courtfield.

In other rearranged games, Edenside beat British Rail 10-0 and British Rail beat Subscription 8-2.

Subscription are now fourth on 11 points, behind the leaders but with two games in hand. Stanwix are a further three points behind but also with two games in hand.

Dalston are 16 points behind the leaders with a couple of games in hand.

nSILLOTH BOWLING CLUB Open American Mixed Triples on Saturday at 1pm: J.Douglas, Dalston; D Neale, Maryport; Mr Waugh, Maryport; W.Yeoman, Maryport; G.Allan; Mrs.M. Allan; S.Brough; Mrs.I.Gilmour; J.J.Graham; Mrs. J. Graham; Mrs. O. Hocking; R. Hurst;

R. Litt; D. Nichol; H. Parker; S. Robertson; Mrs. M. Todd; G. Tyson; r D. Wallace; Mrs. J. Sealby, Skelton; J. Brew, Vulcan Park; A. Ross, Whitehaven; J. Walker, Whitehaven; B. Smith, Workington;