Denny Victory for Stamford
After a convincing win against local rivals Grantham, Stamford's indoor bowlers will face star-studded Spalding in the next round of the national inter-club championship for the Denny Cup.
Martyn Dolby
Stamford won 94-59 in the men's four-rink format - two rinks at home, two away playing simultaneously - while their Lincolnshire neighbours crushed Peterborough by an aggregate of 64 shots (116-52). The tussle will be played on Saturday November 20.
The Grantham result was never in doubt after the Stamford home rinks - skipped by Martyn Dolby and Adam Warrington - took a stranglehold of the match against Jay Lewis and former Stamford bowler Paul Bailey with still six ends of the 21-end encounter still to play. They led 21-6 and 17-10.
Meanwhile the away rinks skipped by Simon Law and Roger Martyn were 20-9 and 13-16 respectively.
Dolby's re-shuffled rink of Chris Ballard, Dusty Miller and Mick Humphreys didn't concede another shot, while Warrington - who had Mal Smith drafted in at short notice, when John Earl had to withdraw, added nine shots in the last three ends.
Scores: Denny Cup second round: Stamford 94 Grantham 59 ( Stamford names only): Home - Mal Smith, Jay Travis-Jenner, Neil Wright, Adam Warrington beat Jay Lewis 27-13; Mick Humphreys, Dusty Miller, Chris Ballard, Martyn Dolby beat Paul Bailey 32-6. Away - Tony Barwell, Mick Linnell, Tony Scarr, Roger Martin lost to Terry Berridge14-26; Richard Allam, Ally McNaughton, Bob Warters, Simon Law beat Martin Pulling 21-14.
Roger Martin
County Federation Bragging Rights go from 'A' to 'B'
In a thrilling finish to the annual Derbyshire Trophy clash between Northants 'A' and 'B' teams, three shots on the last end by Paul Bailey's rink was enough to secure a first ever victory for the 'B' side against their illustrious rivals, who had reached the final of this EBF inter-county championship for the previous two seasons and won it in 2019.
Northants A and B ahead of their clash on Sunday
The team founded by long-serving official Malcolm Squires had trailed for much of the 25-end annual encounter played at Stamford IBA and looked to be heading for another successive defeat with just a handful of ends to play when the rinks of Graham Agger, Mick Linnell and John Holroyd picked up vital shots in this two-bowl triples format.
Mike Robertson's trio responded with four shots on the penultimate end but with all eyes on the tussle between Les Sharp, Neil Wright and Bailey against Mick Humphreys, Tony Scarr and Roger Martin, three shots on the last end was enough to secure a famous 90-89 overall victory for the 'B' side and eight of the 14 points at stake.
Both teams brought in players for their Derbyshire Trophy debuts including Stuart Agger, Andy Cox and Gary Dickenson for the 'B' team and Dusty Miller, Wayne Morris and Ally McNaughton for James Harford's squad and at 20 ends, it was a gamble picking a winner.
But in this topsy turvy encounter where qualification to play is based on the outdoor club you represent and more than county bragging rights were at stake, it was the underdogs who at last had their day.
Result: Derbyshire Trophy: Northants B 90 (8 pts) Northants A 89 (6). Northants B names first: Stuart Agger, Cliff Watson, Graham Agger beat Brian Martin, James Harford, Adam Warrington 29-18; Les Sharp, Neil Wright, Paul Bailey lost to Mick Humphreys, Tony Scarr, Roger Martin 21-25; Andy Cox, Mick Greaves, Mick Linnell lost to Dusty Miller, Ally McNaughton, Mike Robertson 22-27; Gary Dickenson, Brian Bassam, John Holroyd lost to Wayne Morris, Paul Dalliday, Simon Law, 18-19.
Seaside Triumph for the Mixed County Side
After an opening defeat at the hands of competition favourites Spalding, Stamford's mixed team secured their third successive Lincs County League (South) victory, defeating Skegness 'A' on their home surface 85-76, securing 10 of the 14 points available.
Dick and Christine Ford both skipped rinks to victory - 32-12 and 23-9 respectively - but credit to the other two rinks who amassed enough shots to claim the overall shots and points for their team.
Their next fixture is at home to Grantham on December 12.
Result: Lincs IBA Mixed League (South): Skegness 'A' 76 (2pts) Stamford 85 (10). Stamford names only: R Roberts, E Wallace, M Wallace, D Ford won 23-9; T Barwell, R March, A March, C Ford won 32-12; J Brennan, A Lonslow, D Mackie, J Little,lost 12-30; J Suffling, V Du'Kett, S Suffling, K White lost 18-25.