From A to B...what a difference!

Post date: Feb 17, 2020 5:17:25 PM

It was a weekend of mixed fortunes for Stamford IBC's first and second string bowlers.

After the indoor club's men's 'A' team suffered a severe dent to their Lincs championship hopes at home to rivals Boston 'A' on Saturday, their 'B' squad gave their relegation fears a boost by taking 14 points from the visit of Louth.

Even though Boston were also pushing for the first division title, Paul Bailey's 'A' squad were confident they could maintain their winning streak against a side lacking several Liberty Trophy regulars but not short on years of experience.

And despite a 42-46 deficit after ten ends -apart from one rink nine shots in arrears - Stamford still looked in control.

But then on the other four rinks, Boston suddenly found another gear and piled on the shots adding 28 in the last five ends with little response, for a runaway 112-81 victory, claiming an unexpected 16 of the 18 points available.

It puts them 11 points clear of Stamford A at the top of the league though Stamford have a game in hand with visits to Lincoln, Spalding and Boston to come. Their end of season clash with Stamford B could yet prove crucial on March 28.

While Louth A are very handy on their own slow surface, they are notoriously less of a threat on the road - and so it proved against Roger Graham's Stamford 'B' team.

There was little to choose between the sides at the halfway mark but unlike their 'A' team the day before, Stamford 'B' stepped up a gear.

In the closing stages, the rinks skipped by Keith Rippin, Alan Barnes and Ally McNaughton added valuable shots in the last five ends, while Kevin Vinter's rink - after a stuttering start - added 11 without reply in a 22-25 defeat.

It enabled the home side to claim 14 valuable points in an 11-shot victory overall.

Results (Stamford names only)

Lincs Men's First Division: Stamford A 81 (2 pts) Boston A 112 (16). O Aspinall, D Ford, P Bailey, T Collins lost 15-22; M Humphreys, M Linnell, J Earl, M Dolby lost 15-24; R Allam, D Miller, P Dalliday, S Law lost 15-32; W Aspinall, M Wallace, N Wright, A Warrington won 19-16; D Hudson, G Knights, J Travis-Jenner, R Martin lost 17-18.

Lincs Men's First Division: Stamford B 102 (14) Louth A 91 (4). R Blake, J Suffling, M Hewitt, K Vinter lost 22-25; P Linnell, C Jones, D Middleton, M Owens lost 15-27; D Heffernan, I Hall, D Bruce, K Rippin won 24-13; D Edwards, R Graham, D Veasey, A Barnes won 19-12; Mick Smith, J Hare, D Cave, A McNaughton won 22-14.

FOOTNOTE: The Stamford A team selected to play at Lincoln on February 29 (1.30pm) is: Mal Smith, M Ramsden, B Warters, T Collins; M Humphreys, M Linnell, J Earl, M Dolby; W Aspinall, C Ballard, N Wright, A Warrington; R Allam, O Aspinall, D Miller, P Bailey; D Hudson, G Knights, J Travis-Jenner, R Martin. Transport 12 noon.

SENIORS TRIP TO DUNHOLME

Following their outstanding 14-4 defeat of multi-champions Lincoln A (not Louth as originally stated) and a less impressive display in the defeat at Louth, Stamford's Over 60 team travel to Dunholme on Thursday (Feb 27) in a vital Division One clash.

After an impressive debut at Louth, Neil Crees retains his place in a side which sees the return of Tony Scarr and Bob Warters after a winter break.

Team: M Ramsden, J Bourne, P Burt, C Watson; R Blake, D Henshaw, T Scarr, R Martin; T Barwell, M Linnell, M Owens, T Collins; D Heffernan, M Dye, K Vinter, B Warters; R Clarke, N Crees, D Miller, T Christie. Transport 8.30am.

MIXED AT LINCOLN

Looking to improve their position in the first division of the county league Stamford's mixed team travel to bottom of the table Lincoln on Saturday (1.30pm start).

The women's Trudy Bates League team visit Grantham on Tuesday (10 am).

STAMFORD HOSTS COUNTY UNDER 25s

The Stamford Indoor Bowls Club hosts the Lincolnshire IBA Under 25 Open singles qualifier on Sunday from 12 noon.

Already 17 of the county's best young prospects have committed to the competition but with registration (£1) not needed to be completed until 11.30 am on the day, the club is hopeful more will throw their hat into the ring for the 7-end, best of three sets knock-out format.

The presidents of Stamford IBC - Ian Hall and Shirley Suffling have been invited to make the draw at noon.

Already confirmed from Stamford are Helen Holroyd, Ollie Jeapes, Owen Aspinall and Noah Tarrabad, with the field also likely to include players from Spalding, Boston, Dunholme and Grantham.

TRIO PICKED FOR ATHERLEY SEMI-FINAL

Katie Bailey, Helen Holroyd and Louise Harris all finished on winning rinks in the 125-102 defeat of Nottinghamshire and have been retained for the Atherley inter-county semi-final against Norfolk on February 29 at Boston.

Katie plays No.3 in Olive Wells' rink, while Helen leads for Jean Thompson (Boston). Louise will be No.2 in a quartet that include England internationals Ruby Hill and Chelsea Tomlin (Spalding). Lincs are the defending champions.

BARWELL'S PRACTICE PAYS OFF

The many hours club fixture secretary Tony Barwell spends in solitary practice paid off on Sunday at Boston, when he reached the semi-finals of the Lincs IBA Over 60 singles to be played at Spalding on March 28.

He beat Horncastle's 'Bandana'- wearing Norman Burton in the first round 17-15 over 18 ends then accounted for clubmate Cliff Watson (22-12) who had earlier beaten home favourite Paul Flatters 18-13.

Barwell will play Lincoln's gentle giant John Whithers in the semi-final with Mick Thompson facing Lincoln clubmate George Draper, who had earlier beaten former double champion Martyn Dolby in a 16-15 thriller.

Derek King and John Pearson also both lost in the first round to Whithers and the holder Trevor Bannister.

FEDERATION LATEST

Christine Ford became the first bowler to play her way into the finals of the Northants Federation's indoor championship at Peterborough on March 15, when she beat Joan Robinson 21-14 in the women's 4-bowl singles semi-final.

With only two entries received, the Under 25 singles final has already been established as between Olly Jeapes and Stephen Harris.

Ten year old Ollie Jeapes' run in the four-bowl singles came to an end when he was beaten 21-15 by Paul Bailey after leading 12-8 at ten ends.

In the triples, Neil Wright, Mick Humphreys and Roger Martin beat Brian Bassam's rink after an extra end and in the mixed pairs Cliff Watson and Liz Hext beate Moira and John Holroyd 21-15.