Despite last minute withdrawals and positional changes in this top of the table clash at home to their nearest rivals, Boston 'A, which often distracts a team from producing their best form, Stamford's 'A' Team triumphed and are back on top of the league.

Stamford ‘A’ invited a handful of willing volunteers with little or no previous experience at this level to join the team to help bolster their county title aspirations when a handful of regular team players announced their unavailability.

And showing a spirit, togetherness and determination that belied their situation, the team duly out bowled their visitors to the tune of a 39-shot victory, claiming the maximum 14 points by winning all four rinks.

Stamford’s 99-66 victory planted them securely at the top of the Lincs (South) table with 82 points from eight matches - five clear of their nearest rivals who have a game in hand.

The rink of Bernie Crouch, Arthur Lonslow, Ian Reay and Bob Warters took the rink honours with a 31-14 defeat of county veteran Les Feary’s quartet, racing into an 18-2 lead inside eight ends and after a minor setback, a five-count helped them regain control.

Last minute inclusions Alec March and John Pearson helped the rinks skipped by Mick Linnell and Neil Wright to respective wins by 27-16 and 14-12, while Gary Oliver also made his ‘A’ team county league debut in an impressive 27-18 success for skip Chris Ballard.

Result Lincs IBA League (South): Stamford A 99 (14 pts) Boston A 60 (0).
Stamford names only: John Suffling, John Pearson, Mike Ramsden, Neil Wright won14-12; Bernie Crouch, Arthur Lonslow, Ian Reay, Bob Warters won 31-14; Wayne Aspinall, John Little, Gary Oliver, Chris Ballard won 27-18; Richard Allam, Alec March, Don Bruce, Mick Linnell won 27-16.

‘B’ TEAM SUFFER SETBACK

Distant hopes that Stamford’s ‘B’ team could challenge the leaders in the Lincs Men’s League South division, suffered a setback when they were beaten by 73 shots at Grantham.

They kept in touch in the early stages but eventually the home side took control and secured all 14 points at stake in an overwhelming 125-52 victory.

Dave Heffernan’s rink of Tony Barwell, Ken Rawlins and Dennis Henshaw had a chance to grab two consolation points but after leading 20-17 faded and dropped 10 shots in the last three ends to a quartet skipped by former Stamford player Paul Bailey.

Result: Lincs Men’s League (South): Grantham 125 (14 pts) Stamford ‘B’ 52 (0).
Stamford names only: T Barwell, K Rawlins, D Henshaw, D Heffernan lost 27-20; R Graham, M Wallace, D King, D Middleton lost 25-10; Mick Smith, K White, M Owens, A McNaughton lost 32-12; H Gordon, R Blake, N Crees, M Dye lost 41-10.

*Stamford Mixed play Boston at home on Sunday (1.10pm) in the Lincs League (South).

National Competition News

Area fInalists in the Senior Ladies Pairs, June Brennan and Christine Ford, failed to reach the national championships when beaten 15-3 by Val Hobart and Barbara Lewis from Barwell in the Over 60s Pairs.

Young Stamford bowlers Ollie Jeapes and Owen Aspinall were members of the Lincs Under 18 team that qualified for the next stage of the inter-county double rink competition at York.