Mixed team topples league leaders Skegness

Post date: Feb 20, 2016 7:56:36 PM

STAMFORD have closed within a point of second placed Scunthorpe as the chase for promotion from the Second Division of the Lincs Mixed League moves into its final stages.

With 93 points they are also just six behind league leaders Skegness, whom they beat 112-78to grab 16 of the 18 points available, thanks to four out of five winning rinks. The remaining quartet only lost by one shot.

In a match that was tougher than the overall score might suggest, Stamford dominated the early stages with rinks skipped by Jonathan Earl and John Little racing into big leads. However, while Earl's four which included Dave Hudson, Carol Warters and Sue Moir, extended their lead to take the rink honours 26-11, Little was pegged back, conceding 12 shots in six ends and finally prevailed 23-19.

There were also wins for rinks skipped by Cliff Watson, conceding only two shots in the last nine ends and Mike Humphreys who recovered from 2-9 early on to run out 21-15 winners.

Paul Bailey had a chance to snatch a point but a last end conversion only just failed.

Results (Stamford names only)

Lincs Mixed League Division Two: Stamford 112 (16 pts) Skegness 78 (2): D Hudson, C Warters, S Moir, J Earl won 26-11; J Brennan, M Andrews, M Ramsden, J Little won 23-19; R March, M Bloxham, A Barnes, C Watson won 25-15; D Mackie, D Ford, C Ford, M Humphreys won 21-15; C Barnes, S Suffling, T Mackie, P Bailey lost 17-18.

Stamford's Over 60s team, promoted to the top division last season, have been labouring in the lower reaches of the league ever since. But with an outstanding 16 points at Boston in a 115-85 victory have leap-frogged their nearest rivals.

Only Alan Romaine's rink suffered a defeat( 13-25) as John Geary's quartet of Tony Barwell, Gerry Corby and Mick Owens rallied from 3-16 to take 11 of the next 12 ends and run out 22-18 winners. There were also wins for rinks skipped Richard Martin, Dennis Henshaw and Kevin Vinter.

Result (Stamford names only):

Lincs Over 60s Division One. Boston 85 (2) Stamford 115 (16). D Howarth, T Weaver, A March, Richard Martin won 28-15; T Barwell, G Corby, M Owens, J Geary won 22-18; w Kettle, T Freeman, R Harvey, K Vinter won 29-14; D Bruce, D Veasey, D Heffernan, D Henshaw won 23-13; A Lonslow, R Graham, B Tuplin, A Romaine lost 13-25.

Showing outstanding skills on one of Peterborough's trickiest rinks, Adam Warrington, Christine Ford and Martyn Dolby stormed into the semi-final of the Northants Federation mixed rinks with a 26-11 defeat of Jenny Harvey, Howard Shipp and Joe Randall.

They now play Stamford clubmates Shirley Suffling, Richard Allam and Derek King for a place in the final. Elsewhere Fiona Richardson, Neil Wright and Simon Law earned their final spot with a 24-11 defeat of Malcolm and Ann Cullingworth and Richard Montgomery.

Friendly Captain, Denis Stapleton reports:

Our Weekend Friendly team have had a good run, including nicking the Welland Salver from Spalding for the second year on the trot. But it had to come to an end and it happened in their latest away trip to Desborough. The score of 121 to 97 in the home sides favour didn't reflect how well some of our team played. Particularly newcomers to the Weekend friendly scene namely Garry Knights who skipped our best rink, his wife Tina, and Jeff Bourne, who in spite of being on one of our losing rinks, played really well but didn't have that bit of luck, that's a vital ingredient on his side.

Other special mentions must go to the other 'first timers' Viv Anthony, Pat Jones, Val White. and Barbara Aspinall, a young looking grandma to seven years old prodigy Owen, who was playing in the Friendly ranks for the first time.

Also Colin and Cherie Burgess who, in spite of joining the club over a year ago only found out this week that we run Weekend Friendlies. Captain Denis Stapleton is still tearing his hair out as we speak. We must communicate, communicate, communicate.

Thanks also to lady and gentleman stalwarts Stella Henshaw, Jean Dupree and Philip Hoare for turning out for us to help field the requisite 24 players.

Our last Friendly of this season is on Saturday the 12th March at Huntingdon, the home club of world champion and currently world number one Nicky Brett. Crikey ! will he be playing against us ? (Don't be silly). The team sheet for you to put your name down for selection is on the notice board opposite the bar.

Rink scores were:

(Stamford names only) Viv Anthony, Val White, Phil Hoare, Jeff Bourne lost 10-30; Pat Jones, Tina Knights, Colin Burgess, Garry Knights won 18-7; Harry Fidom, Barbara Aspinall, James Hebden, Stella Henshaw lost 13-29; Betty Sims, Margaret Grainger, David Thorpe, Tim Stokes drew 17-17; Janet Dye, Serena Brunning, Maurice Dye, Mark Hebden won 19-17; Cherie Burgess, Maggie Holden, Nick Carr, Jean Dupree lost 20-21.