Over 60 rink lose in final countdown

Post date: Apr 4, 2019 4:54:56 PM

Stamford bowlers Trevor Collins, Mal Cullingworth Jeff Newson and Tony Scarr with their Adur opponents.

WITH AN unprecedented four Stamford teams reaching the national finals of English Indoor Bowls Association finals at Nottingham over the next few days, it could be one of the most momentous week's in the club's 28-year history.

All won their Area finals and are excited at the prospect of matching their talents - albeit in mature age categories - against the country's best.

Stepping up first were the Over 60s fours combination of Malcolm Cullingworth, Tony Scarr, Trevor Collins and Jeff Newson, who faced a quartet from Adur (Brighton) skipped by John Godfrey on Saturday.

Sadly it was not a happy first appearance for the Stamford team who lost 18-11. Adur were due to play Westlecot in the quarter-final.

Stamford took an early lead in quite cool conditions but as the heating kicked In, the conditions warmed up on rink 4, which proved more conducive to long jacks. The Brighton-based players finally got a grip on the game, albeit fortuitously (allegedly!) with a few conversions, and finally ran out winners by a comfortable margin.

They went on to reach the semi-final on Sunday against Tye Green where they lost 19-20.

Stamford IBC President's Arthur Lonslow and Shirley Suffling host their much anticipated triples tournament on Sunday with more than 70 bowlers taking part.

The event will be run in consecutive one-hour sessions -four games per team - with points awarded for matches and ends won. The winning team will take home £90.

9.30 am: J Little v P Linnell, J Travis-Jenner v H Holroyd, G Knights v P Frampton, D King v B Warters, H Neath, v N Wright, R Graham v P Sharman.

10.30 am: I Hall v N Lee's, K Vinter v S Suffling, A Lonslow v A Oliver, D Hudson v V Shackleton, M Humphreys v E Wallace, A McNaughton v D Henshaw.

MIXED STILL IN WITH A CHANCE OF PROMOTION

With the shock home defeat of promotion rivals Dunholme by Division Two league leaders Scunthorpe 76-133 -in which they failed to grab a single point - leaves Stamford's mixed team still with a great chance of going up to the first division after all.

Following their 16 points at Louth at the weekend, Christine Ford's team are second in the table with 104 points leaving their rivals Dunholme and Lincoln B needing 16 and 26 respectively from their remaining games to overhaul them.

Lincoln travel to Scunthorpe on Saturday and Grantham on April 14, so it's a tall order. Dunholme, meanwhile, visit Grantham on Sunday needing to win on four of the five rinks and take the overall points by at least 75 shots to pip Stamford to the second promotion spot.

Anything less would mean that Stamford would contest the First Division next season against Louth A, Spalding, Lincoln A, Scunthorpe and Horncastle.

LINCS IBA 2020 QUALIFIERS AND FINALS

Following the earlier announcement that Stamford IBC will host the qualifying round of the 2019-20 Lincs IBA under 25 singles on February 23, 2020 (from noon), the county has nominated the following venues for other competitions:

Men's Singles: Saturday, February 8 (from 9am) at Grantham.

Open Sets Singles: Saturday, February 15 (from 12 noon) at Louth.

Over 60 Open Singles: Sunday, February 16, ( from 12 noon) at Boston.

Lincs IBA Semi Finals: Saturday, March 28 ( from 9am) at Spalding.

Lincs IBA Finals: on Sunday, April 19 (all day) at Lincoln.

BW