The Contrasting Fortunes of the National Teams on Bonfire Night
LIGHTNING STRIKE OUT STAMFORD DENNY HOPES
Against the current national club champions, it was always going to be an uphill struggle for Stamford in the first round of the Denny Cup, which Spalding Lightning won in such spectacular fashion last April,
And so it proved, though two of Stamford’s four rinks - one at home skipped by Jon Earl and Roger Martin’s away - take great credit for emerging unbeaten. Indeed, Martin’s rink trailed 9-17 at the halfway mark, but fought back courageously.
Wayne Aspinall in action for Stamford being watched by Stephen Harris playing for Spalding.
The final aggregate score of 100-56 confirmed Spalding’s overall superiority, however, earning them a second-round tie against Peterborough who beat Grantham.
Spalding asserted their overall authority in the first 10 ends, when at Stamford, Dominic McVittie’s quartet raced into a 17-4 lead. Simultaneously at Spalding, Jordan Philpott was dominating Simon Law’s rink 18-2.
Eventually, with the match out of Stamford’s reach, they conceded with still at least one of the 21 scheduled ends unplayed.
Stamford now contest the Denny Plate for first round losers on November 19. They play Grantham, beaten by a handful of shots by Peterborough, who now face Spalding.
Result: Denny Cup; Stamford 56 Spalding Lightning 100. (Stamford names first)
Home - Wayne Aspinall, Dusty Miller, Owen Aspinall, Jon Earl drew with Stephen Harris, Mike Robertson, Ean Morton, Tris Morton 20-20; Wayne Morris, Mike Ramsden, Bob Warters, Adam Warrington lost to Lewis Parnell, Martin Simpson, Martin Spencer, Dominic McVittie 9-32; Away - Paul Dalliday, Mick Linnell, Neil Wright, Simon Law lost to Kevin Ekins, Dave Nunney, Simon Lilley, Jordan Philpott 8-29; Richard Allam, Tony Barwell, Chris Ballard, Roger Martin drew with Danny Mills, Ollie Jeapes, Graham Smith, Matt Orrey 19-19
WOMEN TO FACE SPALDING NEXT
For the second time in a week, Stamford’s women bowlers defeated Sleaford - this time in the national inter-club Yetton Trophy, having taken 12 points from a Lincs county match. They will play old rivals Spalding Lightning (who beat Peterborough) in the next round on November 19.
Denise Mackie in action.
Ann Sampy in action
The home rink skipped by Denise Mackie, supported at No.3 by Elizabeth Wallace and including Yetton debutants Marilyn Christie and Ann Sampy, proved the deciding factor between the two teams with an impressive 35-12 win, while alongside, Chris Ford’s four edged home 16-15.
At Sleaford, the experienced quarter of Janet Lonslow, Peggy Birch, Pat Jones and Rose March also won by ten shots.
Yetton Trophy: Sleaford 71 Stamford 89. Stamford names only: Home - Karen Reay, Margaret King, Val Du’Kett, Chris Ford won 16-15; Marilyn Christie, Ann Sampy, Elizabeth Wallace, Denise Mackie won 35-12; away - Rosemary Roberts, Judy Barwell, Shirley Suffling, Stella Henshaw lost 13-29; Janet Lonslow, Peggy Birch, Pat Jones, Rose March won 25-15.
Lincs Women’s League (South): Sleaford 73 (2 pts) Stamford 76 (12). Stamford names only - J Lonslow, V Du’Kett, S Suffling, P Jones won 22-13; M King, A Northen, E Wallace, C Fordson 32-19, J Scholes, L Tuck, R March, D Mackie won 17-16; P Birch, J Benns, V Shackleton, S Henshaw lost 14-16
DOUBLE RINK DEFEAT
Hopes of an all-Stamford second round clash in the Over 60 Double Rink on November 29 were dashed on Tuesday when Peterborough spoiled the party.
Stamford ‘A’ were aiming to face their ‘B’ side but the City rinks won both home and away encounters.
It was close from the start with Ray Keating’s visiting quartet taking a 9-6 advantage against Trevor Collins at 10 ends, while clubmate Graham Agger held a similar advantage on his home green against Roger Martin.
As the 18th and final end approached, Collins’ rink needed seven shots to force an extra end but in a bid to kill the last end, conceded four shots.
Result: EIBA Over 60s double rink (Stamford names first): Stamford A 20 Peterborough 31. Home - T Barwell, K Rippin, B Warters, T Collins 10, T Corney, J Clipston, T English, R Keating 18; away - R Allam, M Linnell, T Scarr, R Martin 10, M Fuller, J Martin, C Watson, G Agger 13.
WEEKEND TEAMS
In what should prove an intriguing tussle, Stamford’s two teams in the Lincs Men’s League (South) face each other on Saturday (2pm).
Both are tied third on 14 points. While the ‘A’ team lost maximum points at Spalding and beat Grantham at home, their rivals took 12 points off defending champions Boston ‘A’ and lost heavily at league leaders Sleaford. So more than bragging rights are at stake.
Stamford ‘A’: W Aspinall, K Rippin, C Ballard, R Martin; W Morris, M Ramsden, B Warters, T Collins; R Allam, M Linnell, N Wright, A Warrington; M Humphreys, D Miller, O Aspinall, J Earl. Res. T Barwell.
Stamford ‘B’: P Linnell, J Suffling, D Ford, D Middleton; R Blake, B Orme, M Hewitt, M Dye; H Gordon, M Owens, S Downs, A McNaughton; K Rawlins, C Jones, D Edwards, N Crees. Res. D Bruce, D Wilkinson, M Smith, D Henshaw.
LIGHTNING RETURN
Spalding Lightning make a return visit to Stamford on Sunday (10 am) following their Denny Cup triumph on Saturday - this time in the Egham Trophy, the national inter-club mixed competition.
Stamford team: Home - Karen Reay, Pat Jones, Ian Reay, Derek King; John Suffling, Stella Henshaw, Shirley Suffling, TBA. Away - Richard Allam, Rose March, Moira Holroyd, Keith Rippin; Margaret King, Mick Linnell, Chris Ford, Roger Martin.