Defeat by 14 shots for Stamford in Denny showdown

Post date: Feb 15, 2015 4:07:06 PM

STAMFORD bowlers' run of success in the national Denny Plate inter-club competition, finally stuttered to a halt when they were beaten by 14 shots overall by Egham (Surrey) at the quarter-final stage.

Two home rinks of four players had mixed fortunes - a runaway 30-18 victory by Martyn Dolby's rink and a 16-30 defeat for Peter Edwards quartet - while the rinks of Keith Rippin and Roger Martin travelled the 100-mile journey south but were unable to prevent scores of 16-21 and 17-24 respectively on the slippery Egham surface.

However the visiting Egham players were highly complimentary of the facilities, the welcome and appreciation they received from a big crowd at Stamford's Exeter Gardens stadium, despite ending Stamford's run in the competition which included defeats of Sleaford, Melton, Rugby and Harrogate.

The phone lines were hot between the two venues as Dolby's rink of Stephen Harris, Wayne Morris and Jonathan Earl stormed into a 24-2 lead, though on the adjoining rink Dave Hudson, John Holroyd, team captain Adam Warrington and Peter Edwards stumbled over the opening exchanges, trailing 11-0 despite holding five counts on two of the first four ends.

Meanwhile at Egham, Richard Allam, Cliff Watson, Derek King and Keith Rippin were trading shot for shot with their opposition and led 14-10 after 15 ends only to drop crucial four counts and finally lost by five.

Alan Romaine, Ray Keating, Bob Warters and Martin faced an uphill battle against a rink skipped by former national fours winner Steve Fortescue but stuck manfully to their task to help keep Stamford in the hunt. However, a four count against them with a couple of ends to go, finally sealed their fate after Martin had played the shot of the day with a firing shot that converted a big count against them into two shot in their favour.

Said Warrington: "Overall we were beaten by very good opposition. The guys who travelled to Stamford were friendly but competitive and had plenty of nice things to say about our club."

It has been an eventful journey for Stamford IBC competing at this new high level and one in which the club has gained great kudos and experience.

Scores (Stamford names only)

Denny Plate quarter -final. Stamford 79 Egham 93. Home - D Hudson, J Holroyd, A Warrington, P Edwards lost 16-30; S Harris, W Morris, J Earl, M Dolby won 30-18. Away - R Allam, C Watson, D King, K Rippin lost 16-21; A Romaine, R Keating, B Warters, R Martin lost 17-23.

x x x

Scoreline: Stamford 16 Egham 21 (after 5 ends); 39-45 (10); 64-67 (15); 72-83 (18); 79-93 (21).