Last updated at 12:50, Thursday, 19 June 2008

Cumbria took another big step along the qualification route in the Middleton Cup at Wigton,beating an improved Durham side by 42 shots and by 18 points.

On their last visit to Wigton, Durham went down by 100 shots so they may well regard this as something of a moral victory but they still managed to collect only two points and are still some way from being a competitive force outdoors.

Cumbria led throughout, eight shots after the first quarter was extended to 24 by halfway, 29 at the three quarter mark and eventually 41, a performance which puts them firmly in the driving seat in this group.

Stuart Airey skipped his four to a 15 shot win over Glenn Skipp while team manager John Bell also finished 14 ahead of Bill Ferry. Rick Gallagher and Ben Sherwen’s rinks both finished plus nine against Bill Funnel and Andrew Kirtland and Ian Gallagher was the fifth winner beating David Bolt by three shots. The only slight blot on the team performance was the nine-shot defeat for Stephen Farish, pictured, who met Durham veteran Cliff Simpson.

This was another good overall team performance but it is not quite all over just yet as Northumberland recovered from being some way behind to eventually get on top of Yorkshire in the last three ends and win 16-6 and by ten shots. Cumbria will now go into the final group game knowing that even a 16-6 defeat will be good enough provided that the winning margin is no more that 23 shots. I certainly expect to Cumbria to account for Northumberland when they meet at Wigton on Saturday July 5.

Under-25 Double Rink: The good news on Saturday was unfortunately followed by disappointment on Sunday when Cumbria’s national champions went down to Northumberland at Kirbymoorside. The two rinks finished all square after the twenty one ends and it took an extra end before the north east side put paid to our chances of retaining the national title which was won at Worthing lasts year. It was also somewhat disappointing to see Northumberland then lose out to Derbyshire in the afternoon game.

Alsop Cup: Cumbria scored an excellent 18-4 win over Yorkshire at Saltburn to keep up their challenge for the Alsop Trophy. Alan McGuiness scored an excellent ten shot win over K Alderson while Rupert Cox was also in good form in beating S Slaughter by nine. Jim Hynds was another good winner finishing eight ahead of K Tyreman while Peter Metcalfe saw off the challenge of H Read by the same margin. Cumbria might well have taken all the points on offer rather than just 18 for Peter Irving and Peck Orchard were both beaten by just three shots. Cumbria is now level with Northumberland on points but Northumberland head the table with 17 shots more.

County Singles: The last eight in the County Singles will play off at Edenside and Courtfield tomorrow night. Ben Sherwen accounted for Nigel Harper last week and will no meet Robin Phillips who beat Aspatria’s Peter Pattinson in the last round. David Forster who beat Paul Bannister will play Neil Karge who put an end to David Stanton’s good run of results.

These two games are scheduled to take place at Edenside but bearing in mind the new rules this year it is possible that the Sherwen v Phillips game may be played elsewhere. At Courtfield Bob Dent who beat Ian Gallagher last time meets Craig Docherty who drew the shot with his final delivery to deny Mark Nanson a winning lay in the last round. The last of the four quarter finals sees Danny May who beat Longtown’s Frank Wilson last week, play Maryport’s Alan Walker.

County Pairs: The last sixteen in the County Pairs Championship will play off tonight. At Silloth JW Strong plays D Forster and D May is scheduled to play G Rome. At Maryport D Clarkson will play R Chandler and C Docherty meets F McKenna. At Wigton Park G Allan is scheduled to play A Hocking and R Gallagher will meet M Wilson At Wigton Club M Nanson plays A McGuiness and B Bates meets M Watson.

Carliol League: It is very much a case of as you were after last week’s results with league placings unaltered. Table leaders Subscription saw their lead narrowed to just three points over Brampton when scoring a 6-4 win at Courtfield while Brampton won 7-3 at Stanwix. Dalston beat British Rail 6-4 and remain in fourth spot while Edenside had a 6-4 home win over West End and stay in sixth place just behind Stanwix.

On Friday West End returned to form in beating Linton 8-2 and are now three points clear of second placed Brampton who beat Currock 9-1. Courtfield beat Subscription 8-2 and move into third spot just ahead of Stanwix who won 7-3 at Wetheral. Dalston took all ten points at Edenside and move up two places into fifth position.

Under-18 Singles: Cumbria’s starlets take centre stage at Dalston on Sunday when the Under-18 Singles Championship takes place. Quite a number of the entrants have experience of county play in either the Armstrong or Alsop Trophy competitions and it does certainly show the worth of the event when one realises that no less than 14 of the current Middleton Cup team are either past winners or finalists in this particular championship. Play starts at 10am and the final will be completed at County Finals Day at Wigton on July 20.

Armstrong Trophy: Cumbria’s Armstrong side plays its first game of the season when travelling to Ponteland for the game against Northumberland on Saturday at 2pm. Team: R Baxter, L Parker, G Allan, A Baxter; L Baxter, M Bowman, J Fieldhouse, D Baxter; Mat Hodgson, A Hocking, J Barbour, R Phillips; Mk Hodgson, G Shepherd, B Warren, V Emmerson.

First published at 11:40, Thursday, 19 June 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk