Stamford hosts outstanding defeat of Trophy holders

Northants had narrowly lost their opening match in the four-match southern section series of four two-bowls triples at Huntingdon and needed vital points against the defending champions to keep their hopes alive of qualifying for Newark in April under the 25-end format.

With little to separate the sides at halfway, Northants stretched to a 13-shot lead with each rink still with five ends to play. The rinks skipped by Martyn Dolby (partnered by Nick Wilkie and Roger Martin) and James Harford (John Holroyd & Bob Warters) rarely looked in trouble and were able to counteract the occasional inconsistency of the rink skipped by Simon Law against some excellent conversions by Boston's Jonathan West.

But trailing by just nine shots, a last end four count against Harford and one against Dolby suddenly gave Lincs a glimmer of hope and it needed the experience of Jeff Newson to steady the ship, salvage a vital point with a tied match against Spalding-based former Peterborough football referee Maurice Elding and earn Northants an 88-84 shots win to secure 15 points.

Northants travel to Wisbech on January 25 for another key game against North Cambs before entertaining a Norfolk team, rumoured to include former world indoor singles champion Mervyn King at Stamford on February 15.

Result (Northants names only)

Derbyshire Trophy: Northants Federation 88 (15 pts) Lincolnshire Federation 84 (5). J Holroyd, B Warters (both Stamford), J Harford (Peterborough) won 25-19, B Martin, J Randall, J Newson (all Peterborough) drew 20-20, N Wilkie (Peterborough), R Martin, M Dolby (both Stamford) won 27-16, H Shipp, A Thurston, S Law (all Peterborough) lost 15-28.

Stephen Harris and Martyn Dolby have reached the Area final of the English indoor pairs following an outstanding semi-final defeat of Sleaford's David Bristow and Paul Roberts.

They took an early lead, were level at halfway but trailed 13-14 after 15 ends before three shots put them ahead. Three further shots gave them a 19-17 advantage playing the last end when teenager Harris drew a back 'toucher' to force Roberts into firing and missing, they won 21-17 to earn a match up with Lincoln's finest.

More than 25 potential new bowlers responded to Stamford IBC's Open morning invitation to try the game for free.

The club's Exeter Gardens stadium was packed as new bowlers took the opportunity to share the skills of a game that is proving an attractive opportunity for sportsmen and women to maintain a competitive edge.

The club's head coach, Helen Randall said that they were delighted by the response to the promotion and hoping the newcomers will all return for further coaching on subsequent Saturday mornings.

Boston at last got revenge for a handful of defeats they have suffered at the hands of Stamford bowlers when they won the EIBA Over 60s Double Rink encounter between the two clubs on Monday.

Earlier Stamford A had beaten Sleaford and Grantham while Boston, knocked out of the rinks and pairs by Stamford players, had accounted for the former winners of the event from Lincoln.

Playing at home, Martyn Dolby's rink built up a six-shot lead by the 20th end and despite conceding a three on the final end won 17-14. It still left the away rink, skipped by Roger Martin, an uphill task against Mick Tomlin, supported superbly by Paul Flatters at No.2 who continually foiled Mike Ramsden's and Peter Cox's best efforts.

Stamford were 1-10 after nine ends but chasing the deficit conceded five and four counts in successive ends and finally shook hands after 15 ends with the match beyond reach. Boston now face either Newark or Church Gresley.

Result

National Over 60s double rink: Stamford A 20 Boston 38. Stamford names first: Home - D Hudson, R Montgomery, P Edwards, M Dolby beat B Wilson, G Hardstaff, G Parker, L Feary 17-13; Away - M Ramsden, P Cox, B Warters, R Martin lost 3-24.

Stamford IBC's team competing in the Lincs Over 60s League sit proudly at the top of the second division after a comprehensive 95-74 win at Grantham, claiming 16 points with four winning rinks.

With 114 pts they are 18 clear of Skegness A and 30 ahead of Sleaford, both of whom have two games in hand.

Sadly Stamford are struggling in the top division of the Lincs Mixed League, toppled 81-104 by league leaders Lincoln A, who plundered all 18 points on their slick home surface. Rinks skipped by John Holroyd, Warters and Dolby had the chance to snatch vital points but stumbled with counts against them on the final end.

Nonagenarians Arthur Chapman and Nigel Kettle clashed in the first round of the Stamford club singles and it was Kettle who prevailed against his 92 year old rival rarely letting him in for a score, bowling short-length jacks.

John Pearson, Mike Ramsden, Derek King, Ray Keating, Roger Graham, Viv Evans,Tony Barwell and M DeCamp were also among those who made it through to the second round.

STOP PRESS

A home tie with a rink from Nottingham will be Stamford's reward for a 20-10 defeat of old rivals Scunthorpe on Tuesday night.

Bob Warters, Peter Edwards, Roger Martin and Martyn Dolby have two more hurdles to negotiate before they can reach the National final stages of the Over 60s Fours for the second time in three years, having been finalists in 2012.

Against Scunthorpe it was a tight match until a five count on the eighth end earned them breathing space with a 10-4 lead. Single shots at regular intervals followed and though former English Over 60s singles winner Phil Parker ditched the jack for three on the 14th end, the margin was too great by the 19th when they conceded.

Bob