South Park Bowls Club

Bill Morland & Barry Hopkins were knocked out of the EBA Pairs on Sunday despite being level going into the last end. They were struggling to find top form and managed to battle them to the end and only a wick from Stuart Clarkes second last wood won the match. This puts Graham Peacocks rink of Hundens into the district final.

The weekends County games went well for Scott Morland and Barry Hopkins. Scott Morland made an appearance for the ‘B’ Team. His rink won by 8 shots and the whole team beat Northumberland at Summerhill, Newcastle 18-4.

Barry played for the ‘C’ Team at Heaton Park, Manchester – his rink won easily and the team won 22-0. This is a good start playing for the Alsop and the Armstrong Trophies.
Scott & Barry have both been selected for the forthcoming County matches.

We would like to thank the County for looking after Barry Hopkins Jnr, despite being unable to play due to injury he was given a good day out in Manchester joining the team on the bus.

Please see the Durham County website in links for further details of the weekends Durham County games.

Due to an unfortunate incident causing injury to Barry Hopkins Jnr, the EBA Two Wood Singles match scheduled for tonight has been forfeited to Scott Morland. It looks a bad injury and Barry may be unable to bowl for at least a month. We are upset for the lad as he could have made his county debut at the weekend and also he will miss out on the county stages of the EBA Fours.

Scott Morland will now play Graham Peacock in the District Final of the EBA Two Wood in the next couple of weeks.

Last night saw a memorable win for the EBA Fours team taking them into the County stages. These stages are played out of Darlington and everyone has to wear all whites. Bill Morland, Barry Hopkins, Martin Snelling and Barry Hopkins Jnr battled hard to win on an extra end aginst Graham Peacocks rink of Hundens which knocked out Scott Morlands rink in the last round. This is the first time Martin Snelling and Barry Hopkins Jnr have reached the county stages as they have only been playing a year and a half and it is a fantastic achievement for them. We wish them all the luck on the road to the EBA Worthing all England Finals, they have 4 more games to win to achieve this.

Friday night saw Barry Hopkins & John Smith pull off a great result in the EBA Pairs after an extra end. They defeated Micky Tompkins & Alan Moore despite being level after 21ends. They meet either G. Peacock of Hundens or a team from Barnard Castle in the next round.

Saturday saw a bad defeat for Tony Smith & Barry Hopkins Jnr in the EBA Pairs to Steve & Paul Northam of Darlington RA. Despite the good form of little Barry in recent weeks they were unfrotunately not able to rattle the 2 South Shields men.

However despite the bad result little Barry was over the moon to be selected as reserve for Durham County ‘C’ Team, the first time he has been nominated. His Dad Big Barry! – was selected to play lead for the ‘C’ team and Scott Morland has been selected as reserve for the ‘B’ Team on his return to the squad. Unfortunatley our other player nominated for the county has not been selected on this occasion. Both Barry’s travel to Manchester for their game at the green used for the Commonwealth Games a couple of years ago to face Lancashire and Scott travels to Newcastle at their Summerhill bowling green to face Northumberland.

Sunday saw 2 South Park Teams meet in the EBA triples. Barry Hopkins, Barry Hopkins Jnr & Tony Smith faced David Neil, John Smith & Scott Morland. Despite Barry’s team taking an early lead they were defeated 21-8 in the finish. Scott’s team is to meet Mark Ralphs of Darlington RA in the next round.

As of Sunday evening it has just been decided to run a fun weekend in August or September. We are going to deliver leaflets and show posters throughout Darlington to try and tempt newcomers to the game. They will be playing for the Mick Coleman Shield and the clubs Centenary Plaque, there will be raffles and refreshments available. We will post further details of the event on the website asap and hope to have a green full of new players if we can gain as much interest as possible.

Scott Morland was sent crashing out of the EBA singles last night away to Paul Northam of Darlington RA. Despite a close start Scott was unable to pull off enough shots and was beaten easily in the end 21-8.

Another bad night for the team last night as far as competition progression goes but the club are proud of our 13 year old bowler Barry Hopkins Jnr. He played one of the best players in the town – Tony Bousfield of Darlington RA who has won many EBA championships and despite being 16-4 down came all the way back and was only defeated by 3 shots in the end.

Unfortunatley last night spelt the end of Bill Morland’s Champion of Champions run as he was defeated at home to Clive Black of Darlington RA. Despite being unlucky to lose the first set 7-5, he was unable to get a good start in the second set which the game was conceded. The new ’sets’ ruling for this competition makes things more difficult now as when a big end is dropped there isn’t the time or opportunity to pull back the shots where as in a 21up game you can keep going until someone reaches the magic number!!

Bad news for many South Park Bowlers last night. Richard Woodward went down to Paul Northam in the EBA Junior Singles at Darlington RA and also there was disappointment in the fours. Scott Morland, David Neil, John Smith and Glyn Jones were hammered at home to Graham Peacocks rink of Hundens BC despite leading for the first 13 ends.

Barry Hopkins was beaten convincingly over the weekend in the EBA Two Wood Singles by Stuart Clarke of Hundens BC

The new clubhouse is now open. Keys will be distributed as seen.

We have lockers, changing facilities, toilet & sink. Notice boards, honours boards and where to keep vital equipment are still to be decided.

We should all thank Paul Place of Darlington Borough Council who has been very helpful in this difficult time of the season and for the opening of the new facilities.

The new bowls clubhouse in the White House is to open Tuesday 17th May. We hope to distribute keys to members asap. This should be a more secure and better looked after clubhouse for all teams that play at South Park. We are expecting to have new lockers to keep our equipment and a cabinet to display our trophies.

Watch this space……………………….

Barry Hopkins got knocked out the EBA Singles on wed night by John Hills at Darlington RA.

Scott Morland with be playing in the EBA Singles next Thurs at Darlington RA against Paul Northam.