Over-60s double rink championship

Ken Bousfield, Eric Ramsdale, Mort Mooney and skip Brian Metcalf did not settle very quickly and lost the first four ends going into the fifth end against Geoff Dobson, Keith Richardson, Richard Nicholson and skip Bill Pickering who led by 10-0.

Darlington's fortune changed when they picked up a one, a three and a four while conceding only three shots at the seventh end to narrow the deficit to 8-13.

They were unlucky to lose a six at the ninth, but hit back again winning five ends to trail by just 13-20 after 14. They won all three of the last ends, but went down by 20-26 in a really tough encounter.

The other rink including Jack Grayson, Harold Robinson, Barrie Armstrong and skip Ken Lamb were a single shot ahead after seven ends. After which the Lincoln rink proved unstoppable.

Darlington scored only three singles while conceding 21 shots and finished disappointingly with a 25-8 defeat against a very good Lincolnshire championship side.

Better news came for the Quakers in the Durham County Over-60 pairs. The semi-final was contested by the pairing from Darlington of Ken Lamb and Brian Metcalf against Mel Milner and Alan Baker from Sunderland.

This match was worthy of a national gold medal final as all four players were on top of their game.

After five ends the Darlington pair led 4-2, but at ten ends were 6-10 down after conceding a double, two singles and a four.

They scored three twos in style to take the lead 12-10 then Mel and Alan took the lead with two doubles to go in front 14-12.

Ken and Brian clawed their way back in a highly skilled game to go in front by 15-14. All level at 16-16 with only single shots available, the tension was showing at the 20th end.

Darlington held a single with the skips to play when Brian trailed the jack to two good waiting bowls.

The Sunderland skip had little choice but to play strongly weighted woods. Alan played four runners while Brian played positional cover shots and went on to win by two.

Darlington play Ray Willoughby and Ray Newton from Stanley next Wednesday on the neutral venue of Hartlepool at 12.30pm alongside three other finals including singles, pairs and fours matches.

Great Aycliffe bowlers proved too strong for Darlington Veterans A team at the Morrison Centre over three rinks. For the Quakers Bill Elliott, John Mackey, Norman Rae and skip Eric Ramsdale had the edge over Dave Roberts, Bill Teesdale, Brian Sayers and skip Vince Robson and led by 6-2 10-6 in the first half of their game.

The Quakers picked up a valuable single and a three to take them in front, but the Vince Robson four hit back capturing the last four ends and with it six shots to collect two valuable points and a 17-14 victory for Aycliffe.

Jack Grayson, Mort Mooney, Brian Metcalf and skip Ken Lamb lost their way in the middle part of their game against Ken Hutchinson, Stan Dalton, Alan Cooper and skip Keith Dunning. Aycliffe scored ten shots without reply to finish with a 15-11 victory.

Ken Bousfield, Ken Coates, Harold Robinson and skip Barrie Armstrong were 7-13 adrift then collected two fours and a three and a single to beat T Shaw, W Hugill, R Bailey and skip Bill Duffy by 19-15 in a hard fought game.