Cumberland News

Cumbria’s mixed fortunes

Bowls By David Taylor

Last updated 12:06, Thursday, 16 October 2008

It was a case of good news and bad news for Cumbria players as two county bowls events took place, with an excellent result in one and a disappointing defeat in the other.

Belles of the bowl: England Under-18s, in white, and their Scottish counterparts line-up before their clash at Courtfield Bowling Club. The visitors won the Test

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. This came in the Under-25 Double Rink where, what I thought was a fairly good Junior side, came unstuck against a no more than average Durham side.

Cumbria’s junior’s looked to be getting the worst throughout.

But in the end, thanks to a great display away from home by Kevin Harrison, Mark Irwin, Gary Robertson and Stephen Green, the game actually went to an unexpected extra end before the Durham boys came out on top by picking up two shots on that 22nd end.

All the damage was done at Carlisle where the home four of Jonathon Fieldhouse, Lewis Parker, David Forster and Danny May failed to sparkle and suffered a heavy eighteen shot defeat against a Robert Chisholm skipped four.

Away from home the Cumbria travellers played really well and were a shade unfortunate not win by more than eighteen shots.

This was still a great result for them and one has to feel somewhat sorry for an away side that wins by that margin yet still ends up on the losing side.

At home, several experienced players commented on the shot selection on many ends.

And whilst one hopes that youngsters can learn from their mistakes this is all part of collecting experience.

Players can be coached and taught how to play and deliver bowls but experience can only be gained over a rather longer period of time.

Over-60s

On to the better news and this came at the other end of the age spectrum when the Cumbria played its first game in the newly instituted EIBA Inter County league.

This was Cumbria’s first venture in inter county team play and right well they performed even if the opposition was not really of too high a standard.

Yorkshire have not done too well in the northern counties league which Cumbria have not participated in,

But, nevertheless, this first venture saw Cumbria win on five of the six rinks including all three which travelled to Selby and picked up 24 of the possible 26 points on offer.

With group favourites Durham managing just sixteen from their game against Lancashire this was an excellent springboard for the Cumbrians.

At Selby Anthony Little skipped his four to a great 29-16 win, David Balfour’s all Eden four survived a late revival by the home side to win 22-16 while Jim Hynds after a shotless run of six ends picked up three singles on the last three end to win by one.

At Carlisle John bell was in a game of three halves!! winning the first and last while losing the middle to get home by nine while Bill Adam for whom Bill Wood was in good form at three led virtually throughout and held on well to win by a shot.

The only defeat for Cumbria was suffered by Ron McMath who saw his opposite number enjoy a fair bit of fortune before recording a three shot win for the visitors.

So Cumbria picked up ten shots for the five winning rinks, four points for each winning venue and a further six points for the overall score.

A great result which should put the side in good spirits for what will possibly the deciding game against Durham on Tuesday week.

This is likely to be a much harder game but with one or two players likely to be available once again there is every chance that Cumbria can score a decisive victory, here’s hoping.

The home fours will again play at Carlisle and the away four will I understand travel to either Darlington or Stanley, more news next week.

Denny Cup

Cumbria IBC the current holders of the Denny Cup make their first defence of the title this Saturday when West Denton will provide the opposition.

The Newcastle Club will no doubt put up astern fight but in reality the Carlisle Club should have too many guns for them and anything other than a comfortable victory will be something of a surprise.

The selected side is shown below and the game commences at 10am.

Over-60 Inter Club Double Rink

On Tuesday Cumbria A take on Tynedale IBC Hexham in the first round of this national competition.

Again Cumbria ought to win this one comfortably but nothing is certain in this game. This game starts at noon and the two selected fours are shown below.

Cumbria’s B side is also playing its first round match next week and their opposition will be provided by Durham B.

Again I expect the Carlisle club to come out on top and the selected side for the game on Thursday October 23 is shown below.

Vivienne Trophy

Cumbria’s Vivienne side is also in action for the first time on Thursday but because of the travel rule the match against Melton and District is being played on New Earswick IBC in York. The side for this game is shown below.

EIBA Competitions

The first of the individual nationals get under way this weekend on Sunday at 10am when there are two mixed pairs games being played. Anthony Little meets Geordie McCulloch and Lawrence Telford plays Sandy Kirkpatrick.

At noon Craig Docherty plays Brian Robertson while on Tuesday also at noon Jackie Wilson will play Sylvia Jefferies in the singles at Carlisle.

Over-50 County Triples League

Following representations by clubs within Cumbria it has been agreed that the Over 50 triples League which takes place on Sunday mornings will re-commence on Sunday, November 9.

There are seven teams taking part and there are one or two changes to the league rules. All clubs will be circulated with fixture lists and the new rules within the next day or two.

FIXTURES

Denny Cup - Cumbria IBC v West Denton IBC - Saturday October 18, 10am

Home: D May, R Gass, C Docherty, S Farish: N Karge, M Nanson, I Gallagher, S Airey.

Away: E Murray, J Wills, R Graham, GR Taylor: K Harrison, JN Bell, P Barlow, T Taylor.

Reserves: G Robertson, S Green

Over 60 Double Rink v Tynedale Tuesday October 21, Noon.

Home: T Linton, D Sparrow, J Menzies, JN Bell

Away: R Thorburn, W Bryce, R McMath, J Crozier

Reserves: A Carruthers, E McGarr

Over 60 Double Rink v Durham B Thursday October 23, Noon

Home: I Graham, T Corps, J Morris, A Carruthers

Away: P Angood, A Close, J Brew, J Hynds