Top of the table Stamford A topple Lincoln

Post date: Dec 1, 2018 7:33:28 PM

Stamford Men's A team confirmed its determination to regain the Lincolnshire League Division One title it won in 2017 with an emphatic 33-shot defeat of defending champions Lincoln A.

The home side mopped up 16 of the 18 points at stake, which takes them to the top of the table with 60 points from four matches - eight points clear of their Lincoln rivals who have played the same number of games.

On a surface similar in speed to their own carpet, the Lincoln players - albeit missing some of the stars who had beaten Stamford in their recent Egham Trophy clash - kept pace with the home side as both sides jostled for an advantage.

However, by the 15-end mark, Stamford began to press home their advantage with league debutant Jeff Newson's rink building an 18-6 lead while Martyn Dolby's four held a 17-8 advantage.

Elsewhere captain Paul Bailey was 17-13 ahead while Jon Earl, making a welcome return, was neck and neck with the opposition.

Fears that Roger Martin's quartet were struggling against Ben Wilson, were 5-20 behind and might effect the overall result, were soon allayed when they picked up 10 shots in four ends to put the aggregate result beyond doubt.

Earl's rink also came with a late flourish with a seven count on the last end, while Dolby's four took the rink honours at 28-9.

Results (Stamford names only)

Lincolnshire League Division One: Stamford A 105 (16 pts) Lincoln A 72 (2). Dave Hudson, Mal Smith, Peter Edwards, Martyn Dolby won 28-9; Richard Allam, Mick Linnell, Mick Humphreys, Jon Earl won 20-16; Alan Romaine,Jay Travis-Jenner, Adam Warrington, Paul Bailey won 21-15; Mike Ramsden, John Holroyd, Neil Wright, Jeff Newson won 21-10; Chris Ballard, Cliff Watson, Bob Warters, Roger Martin lost 15-22.

B TEAM REGAIN BRAGGING RIGHTS OVER SPALDING

Less than week after suffering an 18 point whitewash at Spalding, Stamford men's B team gained partial revenge by beating their rivals 120-77 in their Lincs League Division Two return fixture.

They may have collected only 14 of the 18 points at stake but at least regained bragging rights in winning three of the five rinks, with captain Roger Graham, Malcolm Cullingworth, Richard Montgomery and Alan Barnes taking the rink honours with a comprehensive 35-11 win over Mick Dolton.

Spalding included late replacement skips Kevin Ekins and Andy Dunham - both members of the county's Liberty Trophy side - and it was they who took the points for their team with narrow defeats of Stamford rinks skipped by David Hefferman and Keith Rippin.

Other winning Stamford skips were Trevor Christie and Keith Gentry.

Stamford B's next fixture is at home to Skegness on December 15 (2pm).

Results (Stamford names only):

Lincs Men's League Division Two. Stamford B 120 (14 pts) Spalding 77 (4). P Linnell, J Hebden, M Hebden, T Christie won 25-16; R Graham, M Cullingworth, R Montgomery, A Barnes won 35-11; T Barwell, D Veasey, D Middleton, K Gentry won 29-15; R Blake, D Henshaw, M Hewitt, D Heffernan lost 15-17; A Lonslow, D Miller, A McNaughton, K Rippin lost 16-18.