Club finals: Dolby's astonishing whitewash

Post date: Apr 9, 2016 7:34:11 PM

IN ONE of the most extraordinary singles matches witnessed at the club in its 25 years, Martyn Dolby bowled a masterclass to whitewash his young protege Stephen Harris, 50 years his junior, writes Bob Warters.

The pair play together as respective skip and lead in national and county competitions, but Dolby, relentlessly accurate with his first bowl, end after end, showed no mercy for his apprentice and didn't concede a single shot in the 11 ends the game lasted.

He even received a light-hearted boo, when on the 10th end, with Harris holding the shot he needed to get off the mark, Dolby eased the jack away from him for a two count.

Harris (18), a Lincs and Northants Federation county regular and destined for further honours, said: "No complaints. Martyn played ridiculously well; nothing I could do."

As for Dolby, who will represent the club in the new Area 5, in next year's champion of champions, he has never bowled better and trusts that Stephen will learn from the experience and come back even stronger.

"My arm felt just in the groove," he said, sharing a beer with his young adversary.

He went on to win three more titles from the five he contested including the pairs and mixed pairs and men's fours. On Saturday, he aims to retain the Lincs Senior singles at Boston.

One of the best contests of a packed weekend was saved for the final moments of competition when Peter Edwards' rink, claiming a total age of 313 years, snapped up four shots to force an extra end against Dolby's quartet.

But Edwards' rink, who included Barrie Plowman transported from end to end in a wheelchair and 89-year-old Wally Kettle, couldn't quite get over the line.

However, not all veterans were upstaged.

Though trailing by 11 shots after eight ends, the chances of 82-year-old bowling legend Peggy Birch retaining the women's triples title she won in such dramatic style last year, looked slim.

With partners Christine Barnes and Elizabeth Wallace, she couldn't hold the experienced trio of Sue Moir, Margaret Bloxham and Joan Robinson, who built up a comfortable 13-2 lead and still held sway 16-11 with just two of the 18 scheduled ends to play.

A four count on 17 put Birch's side back in touch at 15-16 before two excellent, close bowls by Bloxham looked to have the game won.

But they hadn't reckoned on the Barnes-Wallace combination and Birch's bombshell after two miss-directed firing attempts on her forehand. She changed to the backhand and drove Bloxham's bowls out of the head to hold a winning three-shot count, to which Moir had no answer.

Said Birch: " I was referred to as an Octogenarian when we won last year. But I don't mind, I love it! It is just great to still be competitive at this age."

There was better news for Robinson and Bloxham in the mixed fours where, with Dave Hudson and Cliff Watson, they survived a seven count on the 13th end to trail 12-15 before claiming eight shots in four ends without reply and finally beating Stephen Harris, Moir, Christine Ford and Martyn Dolby 22-19.

With Adam Warrington recovering from an injured ankle and Barrie Plowman also out of action, Jonathan Earl and Keith Rippin stepped in to partner Dolby and Peter Edwards respectively in the men's pairs. Earl proved the slightly more effective substitute, skipping his Blackstones team-mate to a 22-12 victory.

Continuing last year's innovation to introduce more youngsters into the game, seven under 12s competed for the mini-bowlers titles with seven-year-old prospect Owen Aspinall taking the top prize against Charlie Priestley.

The St Gilbert's School pupil also challenged the older juniors for the 18 and under title and beat both James Hebden and Louise Harris in one of the three-end qualifying challenges. But it was Kalum Orme who reached the final on shots difference only to lose out to Jay Travis-Jenner, who later joined Wayne Morris and club president Bob Warters to win the men's triples.

On behalf of President Bob and Carol Warters, a big thanks to all who contributed to the weekend of competitions including Keith Rippin and Mike Ramsden organising the juniors, the junior markers, to Glenys and Peter Edwards marshalling the club competitions, Pam Plowman and Tracey Harris behind the bar and Andy Peaple's catering. Also many thanks to all those who attended to support the players.

ALL RESULTS BELOW

Saturday results

Junior competitions- Under 12s Cup - Owen Aspinall beat Charlie Priestley; plate - William Bayliss beat Evie Williams; vase - George Williams beat Lennon Jones. Under 18 final - J Travis-Jenner beat K Orme 2-0. Mixed rinks. - D Hudson, J Robinson, M Bloxham, C Watson beat S Harris, S Moir, C Ford, M Dolby 22-19; Men's Over 65 singles - A Romaine lost to D King 14-21; Novice Plate - T Knights, R Taylor, T Diovisalvi, G Knights beat V White, B Aspinall, Cherry Burgess, Colin Burgess 31-8 ; Men's pairs - M Dolby, J Earl ( sub for A Warrington) beat P Edwards, K Rippin ( sub for B Plowman) 22-12; Women's Triples - S Moir, M Bloxham, J Robinson lost to C Barnes, E Wallace, P Birch 16-18.

Sunday results

Women's singles - J Robinson beat S Suffling 23-11; Mixed pairs - C Ford, M Dolby beat D Hudson, M Bloxham 24-12; Men's singles - M Dolby 21 S Harris 0; Mixed triples - D Hudson, J Robinson, C Watson lost to A Holmes, R Allam, D King 14-18; Women's rinks - E Wallace, M Andrews, P Birch, G Edwards lost to J Brennan, J Want, S Suffling, C Ford 14-23; Women's pairs - C Barnes, A Cullingworth lost to J Brennan, R March 15-18; Men's triples - M Cullingworth, D Want, R Montgomery lost to W Morris, J Travis-Jenner, B Warters 8-22; Novice Cup - C Newcomb, R Beard, J Beard, J Murphy lost to K Orme, A Rutter, S Rutter, B Orme 13-21; Men's Rinks - B Plowman, W Kettle, A Romaine, P Edwards lost to S Harris, M Humphreys (sub for A Warrington), J Earl, M Dolby 19-20 (after extra end).