Barnard Castle Bowls Club
Monday Evening League
WITH Saturday’s game completely washed out it was a pleasure to get on the green for week six of the league.
Odd Bowls’ Alan Wearmouth and Alan Butcher were in rampant form as they gained the highest score of the night to win 14-4. Their opponents the Oddbods started with John Dent and Mike Courtley, who were 8-1 down at the break, doubled their score in the 13th end then doubled it again courtesy of the joker on the last.
Trionova started proceedings with June Parkin and Joan Lee and the going was tough as they went in at halftime 6-2 down against Likely Lads Peter Shovlin and Kevin Mannion.
Following tea and a team talk Joan was rested and Margaret Sparrow was thrown into the fray. Things started to look up as the ladies won six of the remaining eight ends, including the joker, to snatch the game 9-8.
With two of the 3Ws indisposed, Neil Watters called on the services of Debbie Bailey who has become an honorary W to take on Pink Panthers Denise Dent and Mary Lambert.
It started as a fairly close affair with both teams on three points after six ends, however, the Ws never moved for four ends allowing the Panthers to take an 8-3 lead by the tenth. A mini revival including the joker took Neil and Debs to seven points. Unfortunately Denise and Mary had reached 11.
Showing why they are called the Evergreens, Marjorie Nelson and Beryl The Peril Embleton played all 16 ends as they looked to end the Boys in Blue’s stay at the top spot. Don Hutchinson and George Armstrong were not prepared to vacate and went in at halftime 5-3 up. Once again the tea seemed to do the trick as Marjorie and Beryl came out all guns blazing and stormed to a 10-7 win.
The Carter Family’s resurgence continues as once again they went for experience with mam and dad helping Tim out either side of the break and allowing him two biscuits.
With one Alwyn Brother sunning himself, John Brown was once again called in to partner Alwyn Dowson. Despite an amount of huffing and puffing they only made it to five while the Carters reached 12.
Despite having four members, Quattro Amigos’ Kevin Everett had to hold interviews for a partner. He chose John Robinson who must have come up with a good story as he had already opted out of playing for his own team.
Kevin could be seen looking around to see if anyone else was available as they went in at halftime 7-1 down against Angus Dowson and Neil Bailey from the Men in Black. With both teams unchanged in the second half the Amigos put in a better shift to just lose out 8-9.
The all-girl affair between Lavender Ladies Gillian Harle and Joan Smith and the Redbreasts Ursula Munnerley, Joyce Chapman and sub Rene Armstrong was a close thing. They went in at the break 4-4 and were tied 5-5 after ten ends before the RBs took the next two ends. With so many ladies on the same rink it was inevitable someone would put a bag down for them all to dance round causing a lack of concentration leaving the RBs to stagnate on seven while the Lavs moved on to ten.
Break out the champagne – Team Kryptonite made it to double figures. Things went well from the start. Tony Barkshire turned up in time to partner Paul Craddock gaining the upper hand 5-3 at the break. Bold Eagles Graham Moore and Bill Carter were always playing catch up and when John Tallentire came on for the Kryptonites things went from bad to worse for the Boldies as they went down 10-6.
So with the scores in, the Boys in Blue are having to share the delights of top spot with Quattro Amigos on 48 points while a shift in fortunes sees the Carter Family replaced by the Oddbods on desolation row with 33 points.
Men’s Vets
THE A team were away at Middleton-St-George and brought back three of the four points on offer. John Robinson, Dave Walker and Malcolm Branthwaite made up the top rink winning 24-18, with Barney winning the long game 63-56.
The B team entertained Shildon Railway and their superb 4-0 win made up for last week’s blip. Top rink honours went to Alwyn Dowson, George Armstrong and John Tallentire, who won 26-9, helping Barney to the long game 65-44.
Thursday Evening League
IT was knockout week again and the A team march on after beating Darlington North Lodge 4-1. Top rink on the night went to Alwyn Dowson, George Armstrong and Neil Watters who won 21-4 with Barney taking the long game 61-36.
The B team are still in the competition due to the fact the game was rained off. We’ll have to see what happens after the game against Spennymoor A is rearranged.
Australian pairs
FOURTEEN pairs played in yet another rain affected competition.
It should have been five games of four ends with a maximum of seven points available for each game, however, the heavens opened during the fourth game and with no prospect of further play the result was taken from the three completed games.
John Robinson and Colin Watson took the honours with 15 points and following calculations for shots difference, ends won and shots won, the runners-up position went to George Armstrong and John Brown on 13, just pipping Mary Lambert and Frank Ashmore.
JT
Ladies bowls
ONCE again play was restricted by heavy rain but it was possible to play only the Evening League knockout match at home against Middleton-St-George.
This is a two-rink contest decided on the overall shots score. Barnard Castle won handsomely 36-17 and go on to play Darlington Lodge Ladies in the second round.
Gillian Harle, Joan Smith and Marjorie Nelson were on particularly good form, winning 20-17.
JP
