Mixed Fortunes for Mixed Team

Stamford’s mixed team returned without points from a four-hour round trip to Skegness but despite the home club not offering catering facilities they returned well fed courtesy of the captain, Shirley Suffling, booking the team in for a fish supper on the way home!

Credit must be given to them for their stoicism and team spirit and they will be hoping for better fortune when they entertain Spalding on February 19.

Lincs Mixed League (South): Skegness 118 (12 pts) Stamford 40 (0). Stamford names only: J Lonslow, H Gordon, S Henshaw, D Henshaw lost 5-37; L Cave, V Du’Kett, D Cave, M Ramsden lost 8-21; M King, J Suffling, P Jones, D King lost 15-22; J Dye, H Neath, S Suffling, M Dye lost 28-12.

On Sunday father and son Wayne and Owen Aspinall take part in the Lincs IBA singles qualifier at Lincoln. Wayne faces the Dunholme representative while the teenager meets Jordan Philpott (Spalding).

Also representing Stamford are John Holroyd (v Simon Reeson, Louth), Jeff Pitt (v Graham Smith, Spalding), and Peter Burt (v David Bristow, Spalding).

Margaret and Derek King lost 12-21 at Dunholme in the mixed pairs against Rene Walker and Colin Barks.

FASCINATING CLUB CLASHES

Stamford IBC’s Club competitions have reached the second round and already some of the favourites are out with matches scheduled to be played by February 26 and quarter-finals by March 19. Finals weekend is April 10/11.

Men’s singles draw: D Edwards or G Cameron v J Holroyd or A Warrington, A Speechley or C Ballard v D King or H Gordon, G King or W Aspinall v T Barwell or A McNaughton, J Pitt or M Ramsden v J Pryor or G Oliver.

Men's pairs: C Ballard or A Speechley v J Pryor; B Crouch v B Allen or M Dolby; B Orme or P Linnell v J Suffling or J Holroyd; A Warrington or P Smith v M Jeapes or I Hall.

Mixed pairs: R Allam or J Holroyd v D King or J Suffling, K Tuck or J Little v A McNaughton or B Crouch, T Barwell or G King v C Ballard or D Cave; P Smith or B Orme v N Crees or H Gordon.

Open sets singles: A Speechley or M Ramsden v O Jeapes; R Allam v T Barwell or B Scholes; J Holroyd or W Aspinall v J Bourne or N Crees, G Oliver or K Tuck v M King or C Ford.

CRUCIAL GAMES THIS WEEKEND

Stamford men’s teams will be looking to make a strong impact on the destination of the Lincs League (South) title on Sunday when they play crucial games.

While the top of the table ‘A’ team will be aiming to secure maximum points at home to Sleaford, whom they beat on their own surface in December, the ‘B’ side travel to second placed Spalding, who trail their clubmates by 13 points and could still influence the championship chase.

In the current standings Stamford ‘A’ have 63 points from six games, Spalding and Grantham 50, Sleaford 37 from five and Stamford ‘B’ 22 (6).

With father and son Wayne and Owen Aspinall competing in the county singles at Lincoln on Sunday, Brian Allen and Kevin Vinter have been drafted in to the ‘A’ side and will also provide some needed experience.

Stamford ‘A’ ( home to Sleaford, 2pm): T Barwell (captain), B Allen, M Linnell, R Martin; W Morris, D Miller, J Earl, M Dolby; M Humphreys, K Rippin, C Ballard, A Warrington; R Allam, M Ramsden, K Vinter, B Warters.

Stamford ‘B’ ( away to Spalding, 2pm): J Suffling, D Henshaw, N Crees, M Hewitt; H Gordon, M Wallace, M Owens, A McNaughton; P Linnell, G Patrickson, D Bruce, D Edwards; K Rawlins, D Wilkinson, D Middleton, M Dye.

On Wednesday (Feb 8 at 10.30 am), Stamford’s Senior players aim to close the 16-point gap between themselves and league leaders Lincoln A when they meet in the Over 60s League. 

Lincoln have a game in hand and stand on 85 points from seven matches.

Stamford: I Hall, P Smith, P Burt, J Holroyd; B Crouch, M Wallace, D Bruce, B Warters; J Bourne, D King, D Henshaw, K Vinter; T Barwell, S Miner, T Christie, R Martin.