'A' Team Thriller
For the third time in a topsy turvy season, Stamford A lost a match in a last-bowl thriller which has effectively ended their hopes of claiming a play-off place in the Lincolnshire Men's League.
Trailing by one shot at home to Grantham, Stamford captain Bob Warters trailed the jack for two shots with his last bowl, only for Grantham to snatch it away with a two of their own on an adjoining rink.
It leaves Stamford with 90 points and one away game to play, with nearest rivals Boston A only 15 points adrift but with three games in hand, one of which is against their own B team.
Against Grantham, Stamford started slugglishly, trailing by more than 20 shots at the halfway stage before pegging the visitors back. And in the wink of an eye they were almost level, Chis Ballard's rink finishing strongly with seven shots in the last two ends and Warters' quartet, who had trailed 3-12 at eight ends, picking up a six on the 18th to narrow the gap to one overall. Two shots on their last end gave Stamford a slender advantage.
But on an adjacent rink, needing to add a further shot to the one they held for victory over Adam Warrington and the aggregate points, former Stamford skipper Paul Bailey roared his bowl to victory.
Stamford's other winning rink, skipped by Mick Linnell, had a chance to stretch their lead but conceded a shot on the last end which also proved crucial in apulsating match.
Lincs League (south): Stamford A 74 (4pts) Grantham 75 (10 pts). Stamford names only: R Allam, D Bruce, M Humphreys, M Linnell won 19-16; W Aspinall, J Suffling, G Oliver, C Ballard lost 17-23; B Crouch, A Lonslow, I Reay, B Warters won 20-15; M Ramsden, D Miller, N Wright, A Warrington, lost 18-21.
The B team, who play in the same division, came back pointless from Sleaford following a 91-66 defeat.
Their best effort came from the rink of Tony Barwell, Roger Graham, Dennis Henshaw and David Heffernan who lost by a shot, 21-20, needing a two on the last end but could manage only a single.
Other Stamford rink scores: P Linnell, M Wallace, S Downs, D Middleton 17-21; H Gordon, K White, M Owens, A McNaught 14-25; M Smith, K Rawlins, C Jones, M Dyer 15-24.
Stamford hosted the Lincolnshire County Semi Finals on Sunday when home player Martyn Dolby let it slip a place in the final of the Senior Singles
Dolby lost 19-14 to Paul Bark of Horncastle after holding a comfortable early lead in the 18-end match. He was 14-6 ahead at the halfway stage and 14-12 up after 15 ends, but Bark settled down, varying the length, picked up a three to go ahead, and then finished solidly.
Stephen Harris, from Stamford, but now playing his competitive bowls at Spalding, won his U-25 singles semi against Spalding clubmate Jordan Philpott, taking the first set and drawing the second.
Stamford Indoor Bowls Club will have a wide range of talent on show this weekend when the club finals are played over two days.
The action starts at 10am Saturday and continues until Sunday evening, with singles, doubles, triples and rinks action, for senior ladies and men and novices.
A number of players will have multiple commitments, which has required some complicated scheduling.
Dress code: Whites and matching bowls shirts.
Singles - first to 21 shots (sets best of three seven-end sets, tie break of three ends if decider needed). All other competitions 18 ends.
All matches allowed roll ups (2 up 2 down)
Match time: No jacks after 2 hours 50 minutes including roll ups.
Visits to head limited to one per skip per end in pairs trips and fours (no limit in singles).
Re-spots in operation.
Rinks drawn on day, players in multiple matches may be re-assigned.
PLEASE ARRIVE IN ADVANCE OF YOUR TIME FOR A PROMPT START
The Timetable is as follows (revised April 7):
SATURDAY
10.00 am:
Ladies singles - M King v S Suffling.
Mixed pairs: I and K Reay v C Ford & M Dolby.
Sets singles : J Holroyd v A Warrington
13.00 pm:
Senior Open singles: T Barwell v M Dolby
Novice Cup: D Jibb, D Jibb & K Whittle v V Woodward, D Ancliff & B Jackson
Ladies rinks: J Brennan, M King, S Suffling & C Ford v E Wallace, P Jones, R March & D Mackie
16.00pm:
Men’s Triples: M Humphreys, O Aspinall, C Ballard v M Dolby, D Miller & J Earl
Ladies pairs: D Mackie R March v J Brennan & E Wallace
SUNDAY
10.00 am:
Mixed fours: J Brennan, J Suffling, S Suffling, P Buckley v C Ford, M Dolby, P Jones, A Warrington
Men’s singles: S Harris v M Dolby
13.00pm:
Men’s pairs: M Dolby & J Earl v J Holroyd & S Harris
Junior sets singles: Ollie Jeapes v Owen Aspinall
16.00pm :
Men’s rinks: T Barwell, P Smith, R Clarke, N Crees v K Vinter, J Holroyd, L Marshall, B Burton
Ladies triples: E Wallace, S Suffling, C Ford v M King, P Jones, J Bourne
18.30pm:
Mixed triples: C Ford, M Dolby & A Warrington v M & J Holroyd and N Crees.