By David Taylor

Last updated at 19:45, Thursday, 17 December 2009

Hopes of retaining the premier club competition in England for the Denny Cup remain firmly on course after a tremendous team performance last Saturday to defeat Nottingham by no less than 42 shots.

This game, for a place in the national quarter-final, was expected to be a hard game but Cumbria brushed aside the opposition with consummate ease.

True, the Nottingham team was nowhere near as strong as was anticipated, both Brett Morley and Simon Skelton being absentees, but it was still a useful side and the manner of Cumbria’s win suggests that once more the Carlisle Club is the one that every one has to fear.

Stuart Airey’s four emerged as top rink with a resounding 29-8 win over Phil Broughton, while the other home four, skipped by Stephen Farish, was also in good form in beating the consistent Duncan Robinson 23-13. This was a win which was all the more satisfying remembering how Robinson ended Cumbria’s hopes on the last occasion he visited Carlisle.

If the home wins were good then Gavin Taylor’s 27-12 drubbing of Phil Dickens was also right up there with the best and the overall win was accomplished with a rare defeat for Trevor Taylor by four shots at the hands of Michael Kent.

The Cumbria side looked good throughout and the player’s performances matched their appearance as the John Tremble sponsored new shirts received an ideal baptism.

In this sort of form they could go on a long winning run.

In the quarter-final the opposition will be provided by Desborough Maidenhead who scored an exciting one shot win over Torquay United in a game which went to the extra end before there was a decision.

Torquay were probably favourites and the fact that Desborough came out on top shows that Cumbria will have to show them plenty of respect when the game takes place on the revised date of January 23.

The venue has yet to be decided but it could well be Doncaster if that green is available on the day. More news on that next week.

Over-60 Double Rink

Earlier on Friday Cumbria IBC’s Over 60 Double Rink side made it through to the last sixteen with a hard fought five shot win over Newcastle.

The Newcastle side had accounted for Cumbria’s B side earlier in the season and this was welcome revenge for the Cumbrians.

It looked at one point as though it was going to be an fairly comfortable win when John Bell skipped his four into a 20-8 lead but a spirited fight back by the Eldon Square side meant that there was not a lot between the sides at the end with Joe Menzies skipping the home four to a narrow victory as well.

In the next round Cumbria IBC will meet Featherstone for a place in the quarter final.

Mason Trophy

Cumbria IBC Ladies were in action on Sunday when Blackpool Newton Hall provided the opposition in the Senior Double Rink at Carlisle.

The home side set off well and for much of the match looked well in control.

However, as happened recently in the Egham Trophy the sting was in the tail as the Lancashire Lassies fought back strongly in the closing stages and aided by a one or two fortunate bowls on the last few ends managed to sneak ahead and win the game by a single shot.

This was another disappointing result bearing in mind that until those last few ends the home side never looked in any danger of defeat.

Lingford Trophy

Cumbria IBC’s younger ladies also suffered defeat in the Lingford Trophy when meeting York at Darlington on Sunday. This game was not so close and in the end the York side proved to be worthy winners 37-22.

Over-50 County Triples

The game between Cumbria IBC and Dalston A at Carlisle proved to be a great game and it looked at one stage as though they visitors were going to score a highly meritorious win.

Tom Alberti led Peck Orchard 19-9 after 13 ends but then failed to add a single shot over the last five ends and the home side drew level with a two on the last to finish all square.

On the other rink Stephen Watson had a good battle against Ray Gall throughout and led by two shots with just two to play. On those last two ends however the home trio picked a scores of two and four to win 22-18.

National Competitions

In the triples Eddie Murray David Linton and Rae Graham proved too strong for Dennis Devlin and won comfortably, while in the Senior Triples semi-final it was a similar story as Robin Thorburn, Ron McMath and Rick Gallagher after being just 6-5 up at six ends drew right away in the next eight ends for a facile win.

Far closer was the other senior Triples semi-final at Cleator where David Taylor, David McManus and Anthony Little scored a hard fought win over Jack Walker’s trio.

In the mixed pairs semi-final played on Tuesday Cindy Edmondson and Rick Gallagher looked to just have the edge almost all the way but were all out to hold on, Gallagher drawing the shot with his final delivery to record a 22-20 win.

In the final they will meet Mattie Ritson and Jack walker who had previously beaten Ian Gallagher.

International Selections

Further afield the international selectors have been busy and the results of their deliberations has seen three Cumbrians selected for international duty.

Ladies first and its well done to Janice Gower who retains her place in the side and congratulations to Karen Edmondson who will be making her debut for England at Perth in March.

Edmondson will play second in the rink skipped by Debbie Stavrou and Gower will be playing third in the same rink.

In the men’s side not unexpectedly Stephen Farish continues as skip for the men’s series which also takes place at Perth.

For anyone interested in spectating the Ladies Internationals are scheduled for Wednesday March 17, to Friday, March 19, while the men’s are being played Thursday, March 11 to Sunday March 13.

WEEKEND PROGRAMME

Saturday 10am: S Farish v D Devlin Pairs

Saturday 12noon: J Carr v A Kirkpatrick. Senior Pairs: R Gallagher v E Murray Singles; K Edmondson v J Gower Singles

Sunday 10am: D McManus v R Gallagher Mixed Fours

Sunday 12noon: R Gass v K Harrison Singles

Sunday 2pm: C Horsfield v J Fieldhouse Singles

First published at 11:22, Thursday, 17 December 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk