Stamford B concede all the points at home

Captain Roger Graham (centre) with the Stamford B team beaten at home by Lincoln.

League leaders Stamford A had hoped their B team clubmates might have done them a favour when they entertained defending champions Lincoln on Saturday with a team well capable of upsetting the visitors.

However, Lincoln, with the benefit of having played on the Stamford surface a fortnight earlier where they conceded 16 of the 18 points available, used their recent experience to the full and took maximum points with an 103-81 shots victory.

All the rink matches were close but Stamford B lacked the ability to finish off their opponents after promising starts.

Trevor Christie's rink of Ron Blake, Mick Smith and Ally McNaughton looked like they might snatch the points when they recovered to lead with a seven count but dropped a vital four shots on the 18th end to go down by two shots.

Elsewhere Richard Montgomery's rink dropped 11 shots in four ends when leading 10-6 and failed to score in the last four ends, eventually losing 12-23. Cliff Watson was also going well until de-railed by a six count in the 14th end.

Alan Barnes' rink led by five after ten ends but a string of singles gave Lincoln the momentum they needed to win by two shots.

Stamford B host Boston A on January 11 hoping for better fortune to boost their hopes of staying in the division.

Result (Stamford names only):

Lincs League Division One: Stamford 81(0) Lincoln 103 (18). R Blake, Mick Smith, A McNaughton, T Christie lost 14-16; T Barwell, M Hebden, K Rippin, R Montgomery lost 12-23; D Edwards, D Henshaw, M Owens, A Barnes lost 17-19; P Linnell, D Veasey, D Middleton, C Watson lost 19-21; D King, M Dye, D Heffernan, K Vinter, lost 19-24.

OLLIE REACHES UNDER 13 FINAL

Despite having taken up bowls less than a year ago, ten year old Stamford IBC junior member Ollie Jeapes reached the final of the prestigious Church Gresley Under 13 championship on Sunday.

He won all his qualifying games but was eventually beaten by Huntingdon's Sam Brugnoli - winner of the Stamford junior Open last March - after the scores were tied on 6-6 with one end to play. Ollie's sister Amia (12) also competed.