Friday evening brought the second round of the Men’s Triples with a scheduled 32 ties to take place. Although I do realise one or two games were played earlier, and there also has been a couple of walk-overs prior to last night – including the holders in Gosforth’s Chris Yeomans.
The main headlines from last night saw mainly a good evening for the Rockcliffe Rollers with 3 of their triples getting through to round 3; firstly S Blackett winning away by 1 against Forest Hall’s Derek Palmer, Mitch Bravington beat Collingwood’s Doug Henderson and Shaun Lee Brown (skipped by Darryl Illingworth) beating St. Georges Alan Stewart by 1 (skipped by Luke Jameson). Further down the coast there was a comprehensive victory for Percy’s Brian Rodgerson 18 – 4 (after 14 ends) over J Curtis (G).
Former winner St. Georges Dragons Phil Harvey beat Benfield’s Dane Ross away 20 – 9, and Harvey will now play Morpeth’s Wally Ray at Morpeth next Friday, which is a repeat of the 2023 final. As Wally’s triple narrowly got through with his last bowl at Wooler BC against Brian Davidson 17 – 16. Further up the coast there was a terrific win for Amble’s Alex Bryden beating St. Georges Jonny Morgan (skipped by Darren Parkes), recovering from a 6 nil deficit, to only drop 3 more ends, and won 20 – 11 (scoring 2, 3, 3 on the last 3 ends – as the game was in the balance and delicately poised at 12 – 11 at 15 ends). There was a good away win at Rothbury, where Benfield’s Jonty King beat home favourite Graeme Donkin 24 – 9 (under M Heron v A Gemmill). At Morpeth BC Ashington’s George Richardson recovered from 18 – 10 down after 11 ends, to take the tie and win 27 – 20 against Paul Charlton. At St. Georges Dragons the Northern God of Bowls aka Gary Myerscough beat Collingwood’s Fabian Scott by 1 (16 – 15), and Gary’s club colleague M Bowyer beat Forest Hall’s Graeme Robson 21 – 8. But there was no such good news for club colleague Neil Aitchison who lost narrowly at Health & Security’s Stu Williams 19 – 17 (played on Thursday).
There were two home losses at Portland last night also – firstly Walker St. Peters Peter Brewis beating John Taylor 19 – 10, and Cowpen & Crofton’s Simon Robinson beating John Bartlett 16 – 10 (S Robinson entry under Derek Mordue and J Bartlett under David Pygall). There was another Portland triple in, but young Grenville Richardson lost at home to North Shields West End, played last week.
Gosforth had a good evening – with Simon Richardson winning at Cramlington, in a close battle against Dave Clough, George Bennett had a resounding home victory over Percy’s Geoff Adams, Michael Bennett won at Rockcliffe and Paul Timney won at home against Forth’s Geo Miller.
Other wins were for Hexham Elvaston’s Steve Benson over Gosforth’s Mal Cooper, New Delaval Knights Ant Barke winning at home over Simon Donaghy, and Benfield’s James Askwith edging out Forest Hall’s David Bell in a close contest 13 – 11.
The other games that were played and not highlighted in this report were played earlier.
I am still awaiting results from the other games.Well done to all concerned – to view the results and Draw CLICK HERE.