Want, Moir and Ford qualify for EIBA finals

Post date: Mar 7, 2019 4:26:23 PM

They trailed 5-13 early on while coming to terms with the slower pace of the Melton surface but between the eighth and 15th ends, the Stamford girls picked up 16 shots without reply to lead 21-13.

They had a scare on the 16th end when Barwell held six shots but with her last bowl Ford drew in to snatch the shot and they finally won 23-13 to earn a place in the last 16 against West Denton from Newcastle.

Said Ford: "What a hard game but we did it with a good all round team performance."

NOW OVER 60 FOURS QUALIFY

Stamford bowlers continue to make an impact by qualifying for the national finals at Nottingham.

Latest to claim their place on April 6 are Malcolm Cullingworth, Tony Scarr, Trevor Collins and Jeff Newson who led 12-3 at one stage before beating Les Jinks' Leicester rink 15-14 on the last end of their Over 60 Fours clash.

A Stamford quartet reached the finals of the event in 2013 losing to Tye Green at Melton.

Other Stamford bowlers will also be heading to the neutral venue of Melton & District IBC during March to compete in Area 5 finals for which they have qualified:

*Tuesday, March 12 (10am) Men's Over 60 singles (Tony Barwell) v Mark McConnell (Church Gresley). 6.30pm - Men's Over 50 Triples (Bob Warters, Cliff Watson, Keith Rippin) v Bob Burton (Charnwood).

*Friday, March 15 (6.30pm): Men's Over 60 pairs (Mal Smith & Martyn Dolby) v Bill Hobart (Barwell).

OVER 60s CLAIM VALUABLE POINTS AT LINCOLN

With nearest challengers Lincoln B dropping six valuable points at home to Skegness in a 99-96 win, Stamford's Over 60 team were able to stretch their lead at the top of Division Two.

Dave Heffernan's team beat bottom of the table Lincoln C 100-81, claiming 14 of the 18 points at stake to further boost their promotion hopes.

With two home games left to play - against Boston B (March 27) and Lincoln C (April 10) Stamford have 129 points - 16 clear of their rivals and the team is confident they can muster the handful they need for promotion and the 21 points needed to clinch the title.

But the win against lowly Lincoln C was tighter than the score might suggest. After 14 ends Stamford were a dozen shots adrift and staring down the barrel of a shock defeat before a surge of scoring suddenly saw them take the overall lead and capture the overall points by 19 shots.

Richard Martin returned to the side to skip the winning rink of Alan Romaine, Steve Travis and Don Bruce by a 25-11 margin, while late call-up Martin Hawkes was also part of a winning quartet. A crucial five count on the 15th end helped Kevin Vinter's rink turn the tables 21-15 after trailing 10-14.

Results (Stamford names only):

Lincs Over 60s League Division Two: Lincoln C 81 (4 pts) Stamford 100 (14): A Romaine, S Travis, D Bruce, Richard Martin won 25-11; R Graham, J Bourne, D King, K Vinter won 21-15; M Hawkes, T Mackie, D Miller, M Owens won 18-16; D Howarth, D He shaw, D Heffernan, B Warters lost 19-21; T Barwell, T Weaver, C Jones, R Montgomery lost 17-18.

FEDERATION LATEST

James Harford will play fellow Parkway bowler Paul Dalliday in the final of the blue riband Northants Federation 4-bowl singles final at Stamford Indoor Bowls Club on Sunday, March 17.

The county's Derbyshire Trophy captain beat the holder Martyn Dolby 21-12, fighting back from an early deficit to score nine shots in four ends in a devastating spell and finally clinched it on the 20th end.

It completed a tough spell of four semi-finals on successive days for Dolby who gave credit to his young opponent, who found a turning point when he killed an end while looking like he might go six shots adrift.

"James then started to improve his backhand line and length as I struggled," admitted Dolby. "And as my batteries dried up, James drew so well and was a worthy winner."

Said Harford: "I managed to hang on in the early part of the game and killing that end proved crucial. Drawing shots with my last bowl subsequently saved two or three shots and I stuck to my guns on my backhand to string nine shots in four ends together."

Harford will also join Simon Law in the final of the pairs in what promises to be an explosive and entertaining match against Dalliday and Tristan Morton.

Former winners of the men's triples - Stephen Harris, Cliff Watson and Peter Edwards have again reached the final. They beat Neil Wright, Trevor Collins and Jeff Newson 19-5 and will play Adam Warrington, Jon Earl and Martyn Dolby on March 17.

Christine Ford and Martyn Dolby reached the final of the mixed pairs defeating Sheila Craig and Dick Noble in a one-sided match 26-6. They will play Louise and Stephen Harris, who beat Moira and John Holroyd 22-6.

SCHEDULE FOR FEDERATION FINALS -Sunday March 17

10 am: Men's veteran 4-bowl singles - Dick Noble (West Ward) v Martyn Dolby (Blackstones) (rink 2); women's senior 4-bowl singles - Sheila Craig (Conservative) v Christine Ford (Ketton)(4); Under 25 Open singles - Stephen Harris (Blackstones) v Helen Holroyd (Stamford Town) (5).

12 noon : Women's 2-bowl pairs - Marlene Osbourne & Hazel Bass (Yaxley) v Louise Harris (Blackstones) & Helen Holroyd (Stamford Town) (1); men's 4-bowl singles - Paul Dalliday (Parkway) v James Harford (Parkway) (3).

2pm : Mixed 2-bowl Triples - Alan Romaine (Vanguard) Carol and Bob Warters (Ketton) v Moira, Helen & John Holroyd (Stamford Town) (2); men's 2-bowl pairs - Dalliday & Tristan Morton (Parkway) v Harford & Simon Law (Parkway); mixed 2-bowl pairs - Ford (Ketton) & Dolby (Blackstones) v S & L Harris (Blackstones) (6).

4pm: women's 4-bowl singles - L Harris v H Holroyd (3); men's 2-bowl triples - Adam Warrington, Jon Earl and Dolby (Blackstones) v S Harris (Blackstones), Cliff Watson (Peterborough & District) & Peter Edwards (Ketton) (4); women's 2-bowl triples - June Brennan (Ketton), Jan Want (Ryhall), Chris Ford (Ketton) v Penny Hart (Whittlesey Town), Marlene Osbourne & Hazel Bass (Yaxley) (5).

HARRIS IN NATIONAL FINALS

Stephen Harris has qualified for the national two bowl singles finals at Nottingham on March 25, having beaten Joe Dawson 21-18 in the area 5 final.