Bowlers make a date with old rivals Lightning

Stamford bowlers will face old rivals Spalding in the national inter-club Denny Cup on November 15, after overcoming Sleaford, who had earlier beaten Grantham.

It was a neck ‘n neck tussle early on as Stamford and Sleaford compared their home and away scores at regular intervals, until Stamford took a decisive 58-40 overall lead after 15 of the scheduled 21 ends.

While the home rink of Wayne Aspinall, Mick Porter, Dave Oakey and Martyn Dolby raced ahead 15-5 against Trevor Bannister, the Trevor Collins’ away rink of Jeff Bourne, Chris Ballard and Tony Scarr were prevailing 14-7 at the same stage over Mark Ebdon.

Eventually Sleaford conceded 66-83, to leave Stamford to contemplate a two-rink home clash with Spalding Lightning while the away rinks face a trip to the recently re-furbished Long Sutton IBC where Lightning have set up a temporary home while their own arena is closed.

Denny Cup: Stamford 83 Sleaford 66. Stamford names only.

Home - N Crees, P Smith, I Smith, T Newman- Borrett drew 20-20; W Aspinall, M Porter, D Oakey, M Dolby won 20-10. Away - J Bourne, C Ballard, T Scarr, T Collins won 22-13; J Pearson, D Heffernan, N Wright, A Warrington lost 21-23.

First win for mixed

After nearly three hours of intense competition, Stamford’s indoor mixed team emerged with their first win of the season in the Lincolnshire League.

And it went down to the last bowl of a 21-end battle with Grantham, as the Neil Crees rink of Julie Allen, John Suffling and the outstanding Rose March, picked up three shots to claim overall victory for the team 81-79.

They lost their individual rink 18-21 but the five shots picked up in the last two ends earned the team 10 of the 14 points at stake.

Elsewhere, Janet Lonslow, Alec March and Linda & Derek Cave took the rink honours with a comprehensive 30-17 win which included a six and two five counts, also claiming four shots on the last end. 

The rink of captain Shirley Suffling also picked up valuable points.

Lincs Mixed League Division Two: Stamford 81(10 pts) Grantham 29 (4). Stamford names only. M Smith, C Warters, R Blake, I Smith lost 10-28; D Hudson, V Du’Kett, S Suffling, B Warters won 23-13; L Cave, J Lonslow, A March, D Cave won 30-17; J Allen, J Suffling, R March, N Crees lost 18-21.

Christmas gala tournament

Forms will be available shortly for the  Christmas Fours Gala, hoping to attract 24 teams on Sunday, December 28 with 9.30 and 10.30 am starts. Each team ( entry £20) will play four matches of eight ends with points for matches and ends won. Prizes will be available for the top five places from the prize fund.

Seniors look to move up

In the Lincs Over 60s League Division One, Stamford will look to challenge leaders Boston A and Lincoln A if they can beat visitors Louth on Wednesday November 12 (10.30am).

Following their defeat of Scunthorpe, captain Kevin Vinter has re-shuffled his side in a bid to take maximum points.

Stamford: F Addy, P Shaw, B Warters, T Scarr; D Hudson, A Hynes, P Burt, K Vinter; P Linnell, J Wallace, P Smith, M Hewitt; J Bourne, D Henshaw, D Oakey, T Collins.

With the scores close, it looked like the potential for an extra end to be played at Stamford until news came through that the away rink of Jeff Bourne, Dave Oakey, Tony Scarr and Trevor Collins had overhauled a five shot deficit to claimed three shots on their 18th and final end to claim overall victory 31-28.

Commented Tony Scarr: “We were 9-15 and five shots down on the 16th end at Boston until Trevor played a runner to reduce it to one. But on the next end we counted four shots - all within a few inches. 

“Aware we were level overall, we needed just a shot on the last end. Dave put one right on the jack and we decided we would ‘run for cover’ with the rest behind the jack. In fact we added two more to claim victory overall by three. A real team effort by both rinks.”