Harris wins England's 'Player of the Series' on International debut

Fellow Spalding player and ex Stamford College pupil Jordan Philpott, playing on the next rink, said: "Before we started the Wales game, we knew how tough it would be with their top players in the team."

"It was a hard fought battle and as the Welsh came out fighting, we found ourselves a few shots behind early doors. Some class leading play from our player of the series, Stephen Harris, helped his rink pick up a count of four at the same time as my rink picked up five shots which put us back in front overall."

"With three ends left to play, we were six behind. My rink was last to finish and was left needing a seven to win the series. With my first bowl, I trailed the jack to make six shots but the opposing skip played a runner, got a great result and picked up one shot to ensure that Wales lifted the trophy."

"We fought hard but couldn't quite manage it this year. We will be back next year to regain trophy in our home series."

FORD PROVES IT'S A WOMAN'S WORLD TOO

Christine Ford proved that in bowls women can not only compete on equal terms with men in singles but can win too, by reaching the semi-finals of the Lincolnshire IBA Over 60s Open singles at Boston.

The former county netball and squash player having qualified from Stamford IBC, first crushed Grantham's Graham Smith 26-2 inside 13 ends then took on clubmate Bob Warters a former Over 60s title holder, who had earlier beaten John Molson (Skegness) 22-3.

It was a tight match throughout but when Ford ditched the jack to lead 14-11 it looked beyond reach until Warters drew two close and had the chance to capture a semi-final place but just failed to remove Ford's nearest bowl for a maximum.

"No complaints," he said "Chris played really well and deserves her place in the semis at Horncastle on March 30." She will play Trevor Bannister (Sleaford) who beat Stamford's Richard Allam and Norman Burton (Honrcastle).

Martyn Dolby, twice a former winner, beat John Maury (Sleaford) 24-3 but then lost out to an in form John Needham (Spalding) who will play Lincoln's George Draper.

ADAM THE ONLY WINNER IN SETS QUALIFIERS

Sadly none of the five contestants from Stamford who made it through in the Lincs IBA sets singles made it through the qualifiers at Sleaford on Saturday, though Adam Warrington beat Nick Orrey (Grantham) 2-0 before losing in straight sets to Trevor Bannister from the host club.

Earlier Derek King lost 2-0 to Bannister, John Holroyd lost 2-1 to Alan Watts (Lincoln) and Mike Ramsden and Keith Gentry both shared a set before losing to Graham Smith (Spalding) and Andy Cave (Louth) respectively.

In the semi-finals at Horncastle on March 30, Smith will play Paul Roberts (Sleaford) and Sam Ashton (Lincoln) will play Martin Spencer (Spalding).

BARWELL TAKES ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS NATIONAL FINALS

Tony Barwell continues to show what an emerging singles player he is by reaching the Area 5 final of the EIBA Over 60s competition.

Against Peterborough's Jeff Pitt at Stamford he led 13-7 but with three against him he trailed the jack for a 16-7 lead. At 20-8 he dropped four shots but on the next end play Pitts nearest bowl out of the head to secure a 21-12 victory.

He plays either Mick McConnell (Church Gresley) or Roger Cooper (Leicester) for a place at the national finals in April.

MEN'S B CLOSE IN ON PROMOTION

Stamford men's B team took a giant leap toward the prospect of a thrilling double header against their A team in next season's Division One when they virtually secured promotion from the second division with an emphatic 16-2 victory at Louth B.

The north Lincolnshire side are currently propping up the table and despite being weakened by unavailability of some players Stamford captain Roger Graham rounded up a busload of players good enough to claim a 132-71 shot win.

Trevor Christie's quartet of Ron Blake, Ally McNaughton and Derek Veasey took the rink honours with 25 shots almost without reply from the 11th end, winning 38-12.

On the adjoining rink, Charlie Jones, backed by Mick Smith , David Edwards and Darren Middleton was similarly extravagant at 36-13 thanks to a dazzling 16 shots in the last six.

Results (Stamford names only):

Lincolnshire Men's League Division Two: Louth B 71 (2pts) Stamford B 134 (16). r Graham, K Hansell, D Miller, M Owens lost 17-19; R Blake, A McNaughton, D Veasey, T Christie won 38-12; Mick Smith, D Edwards, D Middleton, C Jones won 36-13; T Barwell, D Bruce, P Linnell, K Vinter won 20-15; D Howarth, A Lonslow, D Henshaw, D Heffernan won 23-12.

MIXED SUFFER SETBACK

Hoping for a quick return to the first division of the Lincolnshire Mixed League, Stamford suffered a setback at Grantham where they won on three of the five rinks but lost 81-93 picking up just six of the 18 points on offer.

With the scores level in the early stages, Grantham stretched their lead to 90-70 before, thanks chiefly to a late burst of scoring by John Little's rink, they closed the gap.

Derek King's quartet, which included his wife Margaret, John Hare and stand-in captain Shirley Suffling took the rink honours 22-7.

Results (Stamford names only):

Lincolnshire Mixed League Division Two: Grantham 93 (12) Stamford 81 (6). J Brennan, A Lonslow, S Moir, J Little won 23-18; R Roberts, V Du'Kett, M Wallace, K Rippin won 19-11; M King, J Hare, S Suffling, D King won 22-7; Mick Smith, J Lonslow, E Wallace, A McNaughton lost 16-26; M Andrews, J Dye, M Dye, C Jones lost 5-31.