Another Area final win for Stamford Over-60 pair

Post date: Jan 21, 2015 11:44:57 AM

A maximum eight score on the 12th end turned the tide for Bob Warters and Martyn Dolby and enabled them to set up a victory in the Area Six final of the English Over 60s pairs against Lincoln's Mike Smith and George Draper on Tuesday.

Scotsman Smith - a current England Senior international - and Draper, looked to have the measure of the Stamford pair's favourite rink when they raced into a 12-6 lead. But then disaster struck as Draper, attempting an aggressive shot, turned his own bowl out of the head and allowed Dolby to add two more for a maximum eight count and a 14-12 lead.

Four more shots on the 14th end put the Stamford pair 18-13 ahead and they finally romped home 22-19 to set up an inter-Area play off with Nottingham for a place in the national finals in March. The pair are also part of the rink, including Roger Martin and Peter Edwards, to reach the Inter-area Fours play-off with Nottingham at Stamford on February 7 (12noon).

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Spalding's highly rated four skipped by England regular Graham Smith - and featuring fellow internationals Matt Whyers and Martin Spencer - almost came unstuck at Stamford in the Lincs County rinks when Jonathan Earl's quartet of Stephen Harris, Wayne Morris and Martin Bailey took them to the 21st end.

Indeed Earl trailed the jack on the 20th end from two down to take a 20-17 lead before Spalding showed their class and snatched a four count on the final end to win 21-20.

Harris, one of the most improved young players in the area will get another chance to show his skills to county selectors when he and Dolby meet Lincoln's Danny Brown and former world indoor champion Billy Jackson in the Area final of the EIBA National pairs at Boston in early February.

In the Lincs county mixed pairs, Christine Ford and Dolby met their match in former England player Dion Auckland and his partner from Grantham and went down 10-20.

In an all-Stamford Lincs county triples, John Holroyd, Jay-Travis-Jenner and Roger Martin beat Ray Keating, Cliff Watson and Peter Edwards by one shot on the last end.