Juniors are National Finalists

JUNIORS ARE NATIONAL FINALISTS

Stamford IBC juniors Owen Aspinall and Ollie Jeapes were two of the six players representing Lincolnshire who reached the national final of the inter-county Under 18 double rink at Nottingham on Sunday.

In this three-bowl triples format, the 13- year-olds played different but equally effective roles. Owen played No.2 in a rink with lead Lucy Allerton, skipped by Harry Mycock (Spalding) which won 21-18 in a thrilling semi-final against Suffolk which see sawed throughout. Ollie led for Molly Featham and Daniel Stanley, who lost 22-24 having faced a game against situation until their last saving bowl was delivered thus doing enough to win overall by one shot (43-42).

They all gave a good account of themselves in the final which was a close encounter until the last three ends when Kent finished strongly winning 41-30.

The previous day three Stamford players, Paul Dalliday, Simon Law & Stephen Harris joined Lincolnshire's Liberty team who played Surrey in the national inter county final which they successfully won by 125 -81.

A noisy partisan crowd played their part in both Lincolnshire’s matches.

In the semi-final against Suffolk, Mycock’s rink were losing 16-4 after 10 ends but came back to win after the stipulated 18. Stanley’s rink were 17-10 down after 10 ends but got themselves into a 21-20 lead on the penultimate end. On the final end Suffolk were holding four shots but Stanley cut it down to three, enough for the Lincs team to win by one shot.

In the final against Kent, who had beaten Devon 52-11, Lincs were in the game all the way until the 15th end when the excitement of the day got the better of them and they dropped shots. Stanley’s rink won 23-17 as the Mycock’s lost 7-24.