Senior's Rink Reach Area Final
Stamford bowlers have reached the Area final of the EIBA Over 60s Fours with a 20-12 defeat of Ray Keating’s quartet at Peterborough.
Bob Warters and Martyn Dolby (Rt)
Martyn Dolby, Bob Warters, Tony Scarr and Roger Martin took an early 5–0 advantage and never relinquished their lead, though six shots in four ends by Jeff Clipston, Mick Greaves, Cliff Watson and Keating reduced the deficit to 9-10 after 12 of the scheduled 18 ends.
Roger Martin
The turning point came at the 13th end when Peterborough held shot to tie the game but Martin produced an accurate cannon to leave Stamford holding four, then drew a fifth. The home side replied with a triple but the visitors picked up shots on the last four ends to put the result beyond doubt.
Stamford, who with Dolby and Warters (Mike Ramsden and the late Peter Edwards) were national finalists in this event nine years ago, will play either Charnwood or Leicester for a place in the finals at Nottingham in March.
Stamford 'A' Head the County League Men's League (South Division)
With a comprehensive 35-shot defeat of Spalding, Stamford ‘A’ replaced their old rivals at the top of the Lincs Men’s League (South).
The 12 points they claimed from a possible 14 thanks to three out of four winning rinks, took them two points clear with Spalding on 54, Boston A (51) and Grantham (42) - the same tally as fifth-placed Stamford ‘B’ whom they play on Sunday when more than just bragging rights will be at stake.
Adam Warrington’s rink of Mike Ramsden, Dick Ford and Neil Wright took the rink honours, overwhelming Mick Dolton’s Spalding quartet, allowing them little opportunity for a comeback thanks chiefly to scoring 21 shots almost without reply in 16 successive ends.
Roger Martin’s four trailed 8-11 at halfway on tricky rink two but then went on a 10-end run that banked them 17 shots including a six count on the 18th end. John Earl’s four had a ding dong battle against Simon Lilley, who included schoolboy Olly Jeapes. Despite dropping five shots on the 10th end, they finally prevailed with ten shots in the last five ends.
Lincs Men’s League (South): Stamford ‘A’ 94 (12 pts) Spalding 55 (2).
Stamford names first: R Allam, D Bruce, M Linnell, R Martin beat D Overton, A Belding, K Puttrell, A Cronin 26-12; M Ramsden, D Ford, N Wright, A Warrington bt N Puttrell, R Perkins, R Roffe, M Dolton 33-8; B Warters, B Crouch, D Miller, J Earl bt O Jeapes, A Emery, M Robertson, S Lilley 23-15; M Cullingworth, J Suffling, O Aspinall, C Ballard lost to P Turner, T Rogers, B Martin, T Morton 12-20.
Federation Results
Stephen Harris is on track to win the Northants Federation singles after a high quality match against Blackstones clubmate Martyn Dolby. Both produced excellent bowls but it was Harris who finally won 21-9.
Elsewhere Moira and John Holroyd and Kevin Vinter, reached the semi-finals of the mixed triples defeating Paul Dalliday, Louise Harris and James Harford 24-20. In the men’s triples Mick Humphreys, Stephen Harris and Roger Martin eclipsed Jay Travis and Paul and Martin Bailey 21-8.
In the women’s singles Chris Ford couldn’t hold on to an early 14-4 lead against Louise Harris and finally succumbed 21-16. Ford was also beaten in the mixed pairs with Martyn Dolby by Joan Robinson and Ray Keating 20-10.
World ranked bowler Mark Royal is due to visit the Stamford indoor club on Thursday, February 24 (11.30am - 7pm) with the Potters Roadshow, offering the latest equipment as well as guidance on the game.