The second day of the Northern Counties was held on Sunday – with more success for Northumberland.
We had more success – where we won Triples and 4 Wood Singles and was runner up agonisingly in the Under 25 rink.
Firstly the Triples – where we had Josh Minto, Chris Palmer (who was subbing for Craig Cooper, who had dislocated his ankle), and Chris Yeomans. Our lads had only game to play – the final – as there was only 2 entries in this event, and they took on the Lancashire triple skipped by John Yates. After a slow start, our lads were 5 nil behind, but after these opening exchanges they settled down, levelled the game and took the lead. The game continued in this same fashion and the lead extended out to 14 – 7, and we took another single on the next end to lead 15 – 7 which was enough for Lancashire, as they conceded with 2 ends to go.
Northern Counties 2021 Triples Champions – Josh Minto, Chris Palmer, Chris Yeomans
The four wood singles had a full compliment of players, that is 5 (one from each county) and we found ourselves in the Prelim facing the Cumbrian Champion Ryan Prince. After an even start King forged ahead approaching double figures mark, and this advantage was held through the tie – and Jonty extended this lead and won the tie 21 – 13. In the semi-final Jonty faced the Durham Champion and former winner, and Commonwealth Games Medallist David Bolt. After the initial exchanges were tight and the game was delicately poised, King like his last game forged ahead reaching double figures and Jonty built on this, edging ahead by 5 or 6 shots. With the game being 20 – 15 to King, King lay match with Bolt one bowl in hand – Bolt turned the shot bowl away and collected a double, and then scored a double on the next end – so was 20 – 19 to Jonty. On a relatively full length jack (and on a tricky rink) King lay shot, but Bolt knew jack in the ditch and he would lye 2 or 3 shots. Bolt tried the back hand with his 3rd bowl and dipped marginally under the jack. King tried to match the back bowls but Bolt still had a shot with his last bowl to either take the jack in the ditch or bowl away, fortunately for Jonty, Bolt missed underneath and Jonty won the match 21 – 13. In the final Jonty faced the Lancashire Champion Lewis Rimmer, Rimmer scored on the first couple of ends – but after this point Jonty took firm control. Jonty led 12 – 4, and this was then extended out 19 – 9. Rimmer scored a couple of singles but Jonty wrapped the game up collecting a double to lift the Northern Counties Singles Title for 2021. Great Achievement Jonty and superb play all day – well done and congratulations.
Northern Counties 2021 Singles Champion – Jonty King (receiving Trophy from NCBA Chairman Alywn Baron)
The 2 Wood Singles representative was St. Georges’ Gary Myerscough, and Gary was hoping to do the double after lifting the 4’s title the previous day. Gary’s opponent was Cumbria’s Paul Wallace. After a relatively good start, where Gary led by 4 shots just before the half way stage. But Gary was caught and Paul duly took the lead, and led by 2 playing the last end. Gary unfortunately could not overturn this and lost 15 – 12. To note Paul went on to lift the title, after beating Lancashire’s Alan Whitehouse in the final 16 – 15 (15 all playing last end).
The final event and arguably the most important was the under 25 rink. The 4 players representing Northumberland were Westerhope’s Jan Walton (12 years old), Luke Heard (14), New Delaval’s Alex Scott (16) and Benfield’s Matthew Bishop (19). There were 5 games in total (as Yorkshire had 2 teams, Lancashire, Durham and Cumbria) playing 7 ends in each game. We faced Yorkshire A in first game and they were defending champions, the game was close throughout but a decisive bowl from Matty Bishop on the penultimate end where Yorkshire lay, and Matty put the jack in the ditch to secure shot and a decisive lead, and we went on to win the game. Our next game was against Durham and we got off to a really strong start winning 7 nil, however a count of 4 and then 2 put us up by 1 playing the final end. Bishop was 2 against playing his final bowl, Matty played a runner for the jack – as had 2 thirds, and back bowls, and Matty connected with the jack but somewhere the jack bounced off a back bowl and went forward and lay between 2 Durham bowls, and we had lost by 1. Our next game we played Cumbria and we won a close contest. The next game was against was against the second Yorkshire team, and again we won a closely fought contest. At the same time Durham lost to Cumbria – so going into the last game we were level with Durham.
We played Lancashire in the last game, skipped by Anthony Booth-Young, and we won a close contest again. On the last end we picked up a count of 3 and Matty trying to draw another with his last bowl, went through by 2 foot, missing resting the shot and second bowl by millimetres. We knew Durham had won – but wasn’t sure what their final score was. BUT with all the results in Durham finished on 4 wins out of 5, so 8 points +11 shots, and ourselves was 8 points +10 shots. So we missed out by 1 shot, and perhaps the game where we were in control against Durham, and lost proved pivotal and decisive.
However all of the lads done tremendously well, and got better as the day went on – we also clearly had the youngest team out, which of course stands us in good stead for now and the future. To note Durham had 3 Middleton Cup players in their team as well. I would personally like to thank all the lads for the efforts, performance – you were great. Also a big thank you to their parents – for your help, support – many many thanks.
L:R – Matthew Bishop, Alex Scott, Luke Heard, Jan Walton
Northumberland v Yorkshire
Northumberland playing Lancashire
Northumberland R/Up (Tom Butler Trophy) L;R – Luke Heard, Jan Walton, Alex Scott, Matty Bishop