By David Taylor

Last updated at 12:43, Thursday, 05 November 2009

Nothing succeeds like success and in their current form Cumbria Indoor Bowls Club players are proving the old saying true.

Apart from one minor blip, the Carlisle Club enjoyed another great week of almost non-stop winning.

The number one object in the club’s sights is of course retaining the national inter club knockout and the team took a great step towards that goal when beating Stanley IBC on Saturday.

True, this was only the second round and there is a long way to go but the Stanley Club is a good side and looked likely to pose a major threat.

For much of the way that threat was a potent one but in the closing stages Cumbria showed just how good they are and the north east side wilted under the pressure as Cumbria strode away for an emphatic 21 shot win.

Cumbria IBC led by three shots after the first quarter, the sides were all-square at ten ends and there were still just four shots in it with the final quarter to play.

In the next few ends, however, Cumbria turned up the heat and the final scores saw the Cumbrians record a 77-56 victory.

Trevor Taylor led throughout against Kevin Wall never looking in any real danger as his front end gave a good display of head building and they defeated Kevin Wall 24-7.

Stuart Airey came up against Gary Smith, a player who still ranks as a leading skip and was behind throughout but still lost by just five shots.

At Stanley where the home club no longer has such a marked home green advantage Stephen Farish came from behind to record a creditable one shot win over John Thurlbeck and Gavin Taylor produced a fine last quarter to score 10 shots to two before winning 21-13 against Michael Bennet.

This was a great win which showed the strength and character of the side and undoubtedly Cumbria IBC must be one of the leading fancies to take the title once more. In the next round they will face South Shields who did well to beat Hebburn.

The South Shields club is not as highly rated as Stanley but still cannot be taken lightly for the next round on Saturday week when the game will once more commence at 10am. Team news next week.

Egham Trophy

On Sunday Cumbria IBC faced a hard task when taking on Blackpool Newton Hall in the national mixed inter club trophy.

Despite missing both of the club’s potential lady internationals the side still looked fairly strong but in the past the Lancashire Club has generally had the better of these exchanges.

Cumbria did not start too well and were seven down after the first quarter but a fine rally in the next quarter particularly from Rick Gallagher’s four at Blackpool saw Cumbria establish a seven shot advantage at the ten end mark.

At 15 ends Cumbria was clinging on to a four-shot lead but at eighteen ends it was nail biting stuff as the seasiders levelled the match.

In those last few ends, that battling Cumbrian spirit shone through and a total of 14 shots to seven saw the Carlisle club gain an excellent seven-shot overall win.

Anthony Little was the only loser and his opposing skip Jason Parkinson was a shade flattered by his winning margin of 11.

Rick Gallagher kept up the good work right to the end in beating Mark Dawes 23-16 while Stephen Farish continued his excellent run of Egham results when beating Chris Gale 18-10.

Rae Graham weighed in with a good 3 shot win over Alan Foulds to complete the victory.

In the next round, which takes place on November 15, there will be a local derby as Copeland’s narrow victory over Eden earns them a shot against Cumbria IBC.

Under-25 Double Rink

If the Egham game was close then the Junior game against Thornaby was even more so. Cumbria IBC made a poor start at both venues and trailed by ten shots after five ends.

By halfway the margin had been reduced to just four but that difference which still existed after 15 ends.

Cumbria looked to be in trouble when the gap widened to six shots with just three ends each to play but in those last six ends the Cumbria players once again excelled scoring ten shots to just one to get home by three shots overall.

Danny May led at only one point in the game but it was the decisive point as a single on the 21st end saw him record a one shot win.

At home, Martin Rice also trailed for much of the way but got his nose in front near the line to win by two. This was a great performance and with improvement still likely to come hopes have been raised that the club can return to something like the glory days which were once commonplace here in Carlisle in this particular event. York will provide the next opposition on Sunday week.

National Competitions

In the Senior Singles there were two ties completed. Anthony Little produced an excellent performance to beat Joe Menzies 21-11 and for much of his game Ron McMath looked like joining him in the next round as he held a useful lead against John Crozier.

Crozier however has twice been the national champion and showed his trademark resilience and tenacity to come from behind and snatch a very good 21-18 win.

In the pairs Trevor Taylor and Ian Gallagher started as favourites against Matt Crombie and Joe Menzies and duly obliged 24-10 though there were just two shots between the two pairs going into the final third of the game.

Mason Trophy

In the Over-60 Inter Club Double Rink for ladies Cumbria IBC first team made the short trip to Penrith for their game against Eden IBC.

The visitors made the brighter start and established a useful lead but as the game approached its final stages Eden produced a spirited rally and there were just two shots between the teams as the final ends were played.

On those last two ends, however, Eleanor Gass scored four to beat Catherine Horsley 29-19 and Cindy Edmondson picked up a single to go down by three to Sylvia Jefferies giving the Carlisle club a seven shot win but a probable moral victory for underdogs Eden.

Cumbria IBC’s second team take on Newton Hall in this competition at Carlisle tomorrow morning at 10am and the selected side is shown below.

Over-60 Double Rink

The only disappointment in the week came when Cumbria IBC’s Over 60 Double Rink B side met Eldon Square Newcastle on Tuesday.

The travelling four did not have an ideal preparation for the game but basically did not play well enough and David Taylor was beaten by 11.

At home David Sparrows quartet did there best but found it just too big a task and their eight shot victory saw Cumbria taste defeat albeit by just three shots.

Liberty Trophy

Cumbria’s County side has its first Liberty match when taking on Lincolnshire at York on Saturday.

The game commences at 11am .

Atherley Trophy

The Ladies County side is also in action this weekend when the team travels to Darlington on Sunday to play Yorkshire. This game commences at noon.

First published at 11:38, Thursday, 05 November 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk