Bowls By David Taylor

Last updated 14:38, Thursday, 06 November 2008

Cumbria IBC are the reigning national champions in the Denny Cup Inter Club event but reports from the north east suggested that Stanley IBC were confident that they could turn the tables on the Carlisle Club.

Stephen Farish: His four came back to win 23-19 in the Denny Cup

They certainly opened up brightly enough and after the first quarter they led by six shots, a lead which was maintained at the halfway point.

Cumbria’s main worry at this point was at Carlisle where Ian Gallagher’s four were failing to sparkle against the rink skipped by Robert Chisholm.

Chisholm has had a good time at Carlisle in recent weeks and after 12 ends he led 14-3.

As I stated last week Cumbria players are great battlers however and they showed it over the remaining ends of this particular game picking up no less than 21 shots to a Stanley single to gain what at one stage had looked a most unlikely 24-15 victory.

On the other home rink Gary Smith’s four led virtually throughout against the consistent Gary Smith and eventually got home 24-17.

At Stanley both fours were behind in the early stages but Stephen Farish’s four came back to beat David Bolt 23-19 while Gavin Taylor, who was in good form, stuck to the task well to force an 18 all draw against John Thurlbeck.

This was an excellent win and in this sort of form Cumbria should have a leading chance of retaining the trophy especially as Saturday’s side was not at full strength.

In the next round they will meet near neighbours Copeland, who made a disastrous start in the opening quarter against Concordiam but fought back splendidly to gain a comfortable ten-shot victory.

After being 7-1 down David Forster Jnr came back to beat Terry Logan 23-13 and Jack Walker Snr was another to finish well, beating Bill Pym 27-14. Ben Sherwen found the evergreen Colin Cairns a tough nut and went down 21-13 and Alan McGuiness was also beaten 27-22 by John Hume.

If Cumbria IBC’s Denny win was in doubt then the Egham game against Blackpool Borough was a complete contrast.

By halfway there were 17 shots between the sides and at the end, the winning margin had been extended to a massive 55 shots.

At Carlisle, Rae Graham beat D. Yeadon 27-16 while Gavin Taylor continued his good run beating J. Kenny 40-7.

At Blackpool Ian Gallagher saw off C. Raddy 36-9 and the only hiccup was Anthony Little’s 27-11 defeat at the hands of D. McVittie.

To complete another week of good news for Cumbria IBC sides, the ladies’ Yetton team comfortably saw off the challenge of near neighbours Eden with all four rinks winning to provide a 58-shot win.

Not surprisingly, most of the damage was done at Carlisle and H. Squires and P. Holliday both skipped their rinks to creditable six and three shot defeats on their home green in Penrith.

Cumbria Indoor Bowls Club’s Juniors meet York IBC in the second round on Sunday following their comfortable win over The Parks in the last round.

New rules this year regarding travelling mean that the game will not be played on a home and away basis as York have opted for a neutral venue and that venue will be Darlington.

The game starts at noon and the eight players who were successful last time will again do duty on Sunday.

In the Senior Singles Bob Au made the slower start but was soon into full stride and comfortably outpointed Joe Carr.

In the Junior Singles all the games were played off on Sunday and there were some interesting ties.

Favourite for the even was Danny May but in round one he was pushed all the way by Gary Robertson before going through 11-8, 9-5.

Jonathon Fieldhouse did well to hold Kevin Harrison to a draw in the first set and was leading 6-4 playing the last end of the second but had the misfortune to lose a count of three and the match.

In the semi-final Stephen Green proved too strong for Lewis Parker in their first set but Parker showed more like his form in the second but could manage only an 8-8 draw and went out.

In the other semi-final Kevin Harrison could never hold Danny May and went down 10-4, 10-2.

In the final May continued his dominance beating Stephen Green 9-2, 11-5.

Under 25: Double Rink v York at Darlington Sunday at noon: K Harrison, A Hocking, M Irwin, S Green, J Fieldhouse, L Parker, G Robertson, D May.

Saturday 10am A Kirkpatrick v E McGarr Senior Triples

Saturday 2pm S Farish v G Robertson Singles; C Docherty v D McManus Mixed Fours

Sunday 10am R McGhie v D Devlin Senior Triples

Sunday 10.15am County Senior Triples League

Sunday 4pm P Barlow v S Panico Singles