The Morrison Indoor Bowls Centre in Darlington launched a comprehensive autumn programme this week.

This exciting schedule includes up to 26 leagues and a wide range of championships, tournaments and competitions suitable for beginners, new starters, club, county and national champions. An international event will be held later in the year which will involve Darlington and North of England competitors. A truly magnificent programme for all, in a sport for all, in a centre for all.

The centre opens for 12 hours each day from 10am and caters for up to 1,000 competitors to include all age groups, all levels of ability, commitment, involvement and competitiveness.

Free coaching is available each day and bowls equipment is available for hire by the hour.

Interestingly, the first game of the autumn league involving Jean Strachan and Barry Cooper, who played Dorothy Donald and John Beast, was remarkably low scoring.

Both sides were contained to scoring only two shots at any one end and singles at all other ends.

The game was level at four ends, six ends, eight ends and again at 11 ends.

Dorothy and John scored a two at the 13th to edge in front by 9-8. However, Jean and Barry clinched two shots at the very last end to win a great match by 10-9. The return fixture should be worth following.

Scores in the 6.30pm Monday men's pairs included: D Mason, H Willsden 17, H Jackson, E Patterson 12; A Durbridge, S Blewitt 17, C Henderson, K Moody 8; J Glenholme, G Lamb 10, M Hartley, J Smirthwaite 18; A Freer, J Kilpatrick 9, C Young, B Armstrong 13.

Colin Young and skip Barry Armstrong actually lost the last four ends to Alan Freer and partner, but had done enough in the early stages establishing a 13-4 convincing lead to help them to a 13-9 victory and two league points to start the chase for the autumn honours.

One of the most competitive of leagues at Morrisons is played every Tuesday evening from 6.30pm.

Alan Crowe and newcomer Ian Prentice, Tony Bousfield and skip Eric Ramsdale picked up a five at the fourth end to take them into an 8-3 lead against a talented and experienced rink which included Alan Stephenson, Ian Pearson, Mark Stephenson and club captain Allen Moore.

As expected both sides fought hard for every shot and every end. Eric scored a 2-1-3 in succession late on to lead 14-10 at the 11th but still could not break free from Allen's.

However, at the 15th end they engineered a valuable four and finished winning by 20-13 in a really good game.

Other scores in this Tuesday evening league included: D Woodmansey, T Micklejohn, J Barrow, H Carse 14, N Hendron, D Simmons, A Bryson 13; H Marshall, N Alexander, G Jameson, B Metcalf 22, K Sanderson, S Honeyman, M Baines 6; L Mortimer, A Mortimer, B Gilligan, B Davies 9, D Gilligan, G Young, S Blewitt, K Thornton 24; B Outram, J Burgon, B Gray, J Robinson 17, K Lamb, M Hope, K Skipp, M Mooney 15; J Grayson, N Buckley, C Young, A Kirtland 27, R Field, D Theaker, J McMaster, J Wright 3; A Freer, J Appleton, N Harrison, J Fielding 9, J Fielding Jnr, F Robinson, K Tinkler, M Jones 17.

The Wednesday morning seniors' fours league session involving 16 teams saw Gerry Lamb, H Jackson, A Pinkney, E Patterson score 21 shots in the first 11 ends without reply. They went on to beat A Duff, D Thompson, R Brown and skip Dave Richards 25-3 in the first match of their autumn session.