Silloth Strollers are walking on water in the Double Triples League at the moment and took all six points from their game against Marchmount Meerkats.

The Meerkats were, unfortunately, one short for Sunday’s game but the Meerkats pairing of T Murray and A Snape gave the Strollers plenty to think about.

In a very tight game, there were just two twos and 10 singles scored over the 12 ends played.

The Meerkats led 5-3 after seven ends but Oriole Hocking, Syd Brough and Paul Wallace pulled back to finish all-square at the end.

Having only two players meant a deduction of 25 per cent for the Meerkats, which gave Strollers a final 7-5 win.

The other game was much more straight forward for the Strollers, though, it did not look that way in the early stages.

Alan Glendinning’s trio began very well and led 6-1 after four ends but the wheels came off big style in the next four ends as Alan Whitham, Sandra Parker and Peck Orchard added 15 shots without any reply to lead 16-6.

The Meerkats struck back with six shots in the next two ends to reduce the gap to just four shots but in the last three ends Strollers drew right away to win 27-12.

In the only other match played, there was a surprise result. Dalston Cockerels have to date had little to crow about, but on Sunday, all that was put behind them when they took all six points from their game against Courtfield Cougars.

True, the Cougars were not at full strength but even had they been, they would have had great difficulty in coping with a side which played really well and deserved the resounding victory.

Joe Westmorland, who had an excellent game, was backed up by Robert Potter and Steve Watson and they had David Taylor under pressure for much of the way before eventually winning 17-7.

The other game was a much more evenly contested affair. Helen Raynerd was in good leading form but the two trios were still all square after seven ends and again at 10 ends.

Ian Graham, John McLaren and Anthony Little then got their noses in front 12-9 with three to play but it was the Cockerels who finished strongly scoring two threes and a 13th end single to win 13-12.

In their previous eight games, the Cockerels had collected just 18 points so this was a much improved performance, amazing what having your picture in the News & Star can do.

Strollers’ win puts them on 33 points with one game to play against Pumas.

Cobras are six points behind but they have three to play, including the local derby against Cougars and the vital game against Eagles.

Eagles are now 10 points adrift of the leaders but they also still have three games to play. Wasps are some way adrift in the league but could still have a big say in who wins the title as their last three games are against Strollers, Cougars and Cobras.

Nationals

There were mixed results in the Ladies events but a very good win for the men in the Senior fours.

Alan Carruthers, David McManus, Anthony Little and Jack Walker made the trip across to Darlington for the regional final to meet I Paddy of Hornsea IBC. It was not a great game I understand, and there was never a lot between the two fours.

Cumbria had a slight edge in the first half of the game but, after 15 ends, the two fours were locked together on 12 shots.

On the 16th end, Cumbria picked up an invaluable four and, despite losing a brace on the penultimate end, picked up another two shots courtesy of an excellent bowl by Carruthers to win 18-14.

In the Under-18 Singles, Daniel Pool has been doing very well and he reached the last 16 in England and travelled to Spalding for the finals.

The last 16 played off on a group basis, from which Pool qualified. But he was eventually beaten in the semi-final by Ruby Hill of Spalding.

Playing on your own green is a definite advantage but Hill must be a very good player for she has already played for England at Under-25 level.

With this in mind, Pool did very well to go so close before being beaten in a tie break. Hill went on to take the title, no surprise there.

In the Ladies nationals, first the good news.

Eleanor Gass met Pat Browne in the singles at West Denton and the Carlisle player was just behind for virtually all of the game.

She drew level on the 25th end at 17-17 but then lost a single and a brace to trail 20-17.

In real tenacious fashion, however, Gass picked up a single followed by a two and a great single on the 30th end of this marathon match took her into the lead for the very first time and to a 21-20 win.

There was another good win for Gass in the two wood triples when Margaret Docherty, Christine Wharton and Gass played Anne Lennie at West Denton.

The Cumbria triple made by far the better start and led 13-2 after seven ends but then lost the next five ends as triskaidekaphobia threatened to take over.

On the 13th end, however, they picked up a single to lead 14-10 and never looked back after that, going on to record an 18-11 victory.

It would be good to see Cumbria take this title since this is the last year for this event.

Next season it will be three bowls triples.

On the downside, Christine Wharton and Eleanor Gass did not fare as well in the Senior Pairs again at West Denton.

Once more, they met Anne Lennie who had Norma Craig leading for her.

There was nothing in the early exchanges but just after halfway the home pair began to get on top and nine shots in just three ends saw a seven shot lead appear.

The Cumbria pair tried to battle back but the loss of a count of five on the 14th end put paid to their chances and the home duo went through 20-11.

Nationals 2017/2018

Despite the disappinting response from players taking part in this year’s national competitions, only 17 per cent bothered to reply, the national association has listened and partly accepted the views of that small number.

Following discussions regarding the present duration of games in national competitions, it has therefore been agreed that the present trial of 16-18 ends and three-and-a-half-hours, will continue for next season in the individual nationals.

However, in the team events the duration of games will revert to 21 ends or four hours.

A sensible compromise, though, I think eventually that the individual championships will also revert but that the senior age related competitions may well continue as they are now.

Liberty Trophy

I regret I have no further news regarding travel arrangements to Nottingham for the final of the Inter-County competition.