Christmas tournament draw

Stamford's county mixed team which beat Scunthorpe 16-2 on Saturday.

RUNAWAY FIRST WIN FOR STAMFORD MIXED TEAM

With their first win of the season after two away defeats, Stamford's Mixed team scrambled up the Lincs League Division One table after propping It up since early November.

Delighted to be back on home ground and their own fast-paced carpet, they out-bowled their depleted visitors who had to commandeer one of their travelling guests to complete their team at the last minute.

There was never any doubt about the result nor where the rink honours were headed after Mick Smith, Janet Dye, Denise Mackie and Ally McNaughton raced into a 34-1 lead before conceding a four count on the penultimate end!

As for the rest, Bob Warters' rink included a seven count in their 26-12 win, Derek King never looked in danger with a six on the ninth end and Paul Bailey was not going to relinquish points from a 15-3 lead.

The return fixture is on January 25.

Results (Stamford names only):

Lincs Mixed League Division One : Stamford 122 (16 pts) Scunthorpe 65 (2). A Lonslow, C Warters, S Moir, B Warters won 26-12; Mick Smith, J Dye, D Mackie, A McNaughton won 35-5; T Barwell, V Du'Kett, C Ford, P Bailey won 22-15; M King, J Suffling, S Suffling, D King won 24-16; I Reading, J Lonslow, D Miller, M Dye lost 15-17.

BOWLER FUNERALS

The dates of funerals for two well known local bowlers have been set.

The funeral of former national EBF veteran singles champion Mick Duell (Whittlesey Manor and Northants Federation) will be held at Marholm Crematorium on Christmas Eve (10am).

And prior to a thanksgiving service at Ketton parish church at noon, on January in 14, a service will take place at Marholm Crematorium of former Stamford IBC and Ketton BC president Peter Edwards at 10.30am (Family flowers only. Donations if desired to bladder cancer and heart charities).

FORD AND DOLBY BEATEN ON EXTRA END

Having qualified to the preliminary round of the Lincs IBA mixed pairs, former county finalists Christine Ford and Martyn Dolby faced Jean and Paul Morris on Lincoln's infamous blue carpet.

They held a 10-3 lead at one stage with the Lincoln pair considering retiring with skip Paul suffering from a knee injury. However, the home duo pressed on, picked up three shots on the next end and led 14-10 with two ends to play. Ford and Dolby squared the match to force an extra end and held shots until Paul Morris displaced the jack and Dolby was unable to recover shot with his last bowl.

Ford and June Brennan reached the knockout stages of the women's county pairs beating, clubmates Shirley Suffling and Glenys Edwards and with Suffling will play Jan Want, Denis Mackie and Sue Moir on Friday in the triples qualifier.

Martyn Dolby beat Spalding's Graham Wright 21-6 the national Over 60 singles.

DISAPPOINTING LIBERTY

Lincolnshire IBA, the 2017 inter county Liberty Trophy winners, were beaten in the second round by Durham at Leeds on Saturday.

They lost on each of the six rinks to suffer a 126-84 defeat, though two of their rinks lost by one shot.

"It was disappointing," said team captain Graham Smith. " We took a chance on a few new young players. With some it worked, some it did not."

Stephen Harris led well for Smith in a rink alongside Stamford colleague Simon Law and Lincoln's Ashton but they lost 21-20 on the last end to Gary Smith.

Other scores: Billy Jackson lost 27-9, Jordan Philpott lost 20-12, Jonathan West lost 17-12 Martin Spencer Spencer lost 20-19 and Matt Orrey lost 20-11.