Convincing win for Mixed team in title chase

Post date: Mar 26, 2016 9:12:17 PM

Needing just eight points out of a possible 36 from two remaining away visits, Stamford's mixed team stand on the verge of returning to the First Division of the Lincs Mixed League as champions of Division Two.

Claiming 16 points from top of the table Scunthorpe with a 134-78 win at home, Stamford are just a point behind their rivals on 144 in second place but with two games in hand - at mid-table Dunholme and lowly Louth - need only a win to clinch the title.

Against Scunthorpe Stamford, looked in no mood to concede points with all five rinks taking firm holds on their respective matches. Cliff Watson's rink raced into a 19-3 lead, Martyn Dolby led 22-6 and Jonathan Earl took a 21-9 advantage before a seven count on the 17th end put the result beyond reach.

Elsewhere Bob Warters' quartet let a 16-7 lead slip but finally snatched vital points with a late flurry of scoring while John Little conceded six in the last two ends to trail in 16-21.

Result (Stamford names only):

Lincs Mixed League Division Two. Stamford 134 (16pts) Scunthorpe 78 (2). J Brennan, P Birch, Richard Martin, John Little lost 16-21; D Mackie, D Ford, C Ford, J Earl won 35-13; D Hudson, C Warters, S Moir, B Warters won 24-23; C Barnes, S Suffling, P Bailey, M Dolby won 31-12; M Andrews, M Bloxham, A Barnes, C Watson won 29-10.

Shirley Suffling will be hoping for third time lucky when she plays Joan Robinson in the final of the club singles next month. Already beaten in two Northants County events by the Yaxley-based bowler, she meets her again after defeating teenager Louise Harris 21-16.

Alan Romaine reached the final of the club Veterans singles with a 21-18 win over Mel de Camps in a closely fought contest.

Followers of the national Over 60s fours in which Stamford bowlers reached the final in 2012, will be interested to learn that Lincoln's Mace Andrews, Trevor Hallam (sub for Derek Johnson), Mike Smith and George Draper lost in the round of the last 16 to Newquay 19-11.

The event was won by County Arts (Norwich) who beat The Parks 22-14 in the final.

The national inter-county Senior Liberty title, in which eight Stamford bowlers emerged unbeaten for Lincs in the quarter-finals, went to Northants, victors over Surrey 130-118 in the final.

EX-STAMFORD ROVERS FOOTBALLERS HOSTED BY BOWLS CLUB FOR REUNION

Following successful appeals in the Stamford and Rutland Mercury and Peterborough Telegraph, nearly 30 former Stamford Rovers Football Club players from the 1950, '60s and '70s attended a reunion hosted by Stamford Indoor Bowls Club where several have taken up the sport of bowls.

The football club thrived following its founding by one of local football's larger than life characters, Leslie Roll, but following his death, it fell into decline and finally folded in 1974 despite an impeccable disciplinary record and having been a by-word in fair play, loyalty, team spirit and integrity.

Among those who inspired the reunion was club secretary Brian Gibbons a former Mercury news editor, who said that the fact that so many had attended, despite playing its last game in the Peterborough League more than 40 years ago was testament to the fondness players had for the club and the sportsmanship it engendered.

Mr Gibbons was also responsible for producing unique programmes for each home match, one of only a handful in the league to do so, many of which remain. Samples stretching back to 1963 were on show together with team pictures.

As the event was staged at Stamford IBC, several ex-footballers pledged to return for bowls coaching when the new winter season starts in September.