Egham victory over Melton

Post date: Oct 27, 2019 6:04:38 PM

Stamford will play Barwell in the second round of the national Egham Trophy in which four mixed rinks play simultaneously -two at home and two away.

They beat local rivals Melton on aggregate 85-73, winning two rinks and losing two.

Away from home Elizabeth Wallace, Shirley Suffling, Mick Humphreys and Roger Martin galloped into a 12-0 lead and eventually ran out 26-13 winners with Bob Warters rink struggling against the conversion skills of John Robinson, which included a six and a run of five singles in a 12-29 defeat.

At Stamford Martyn Dolby's rink won 31-14, while Adam Warrington's fought back to lose by just two.

The home rinks were very tight for the first five ends and on the 6th end with one bowl to play, Dolby trailed the jack for a count of seven and on the next, the whole rink - in which Helen Holroyd was outstanding in both line and length - contributed to a repeat seven count.

Stamford face Barwell in the home and away legs in the next round on November 10. Winner plays either Peterborough or Spalding.

Result (Stamford names only):

Egham Trophy: Stamford 85 beat Melton 73. Home - J Want, H Holroyd, J Holroyd, M Dolby won 31-14; W Aspinall, M Holroyd, K Bailey, A Warrington lost 16-18. Away - E Wallace, S Suffling, M Humphreys, R Martin won 26-13; R Allam, S Moir, C Ford, B Warters lost 12-29.

MIXED FORTUNES AT SPALDING

Stamford's Mixed team lost their opening fixture back in the first division of the Lincolnshire League at Spalding but will feel a little injustice, having won on four of the five rinks.

There was never very much in the match as the overall lead continuously changed hands. A six count on the penultimate end by Rose March's rink looked to have clinched it for Stamford until her opposition skip claimed three shots back on the final end.

At the same time Bob Warters' rink were nine shots ahead and holding four more until Spalding skip Michael Jennings trailed the jack to hold seven shots. Despite firing with his last bowl, Warters was only able to reduce the deficit by three and as a consequence, Spalding took the overall shots 106-103 and the points by 10-8.

Elsewhere Derek King's rink claimed the individual honours 24-14 over evergreen Maurice Elding. Captain Paul Bailey's rink included a maximum eight count on the seventh end in their 21-18 win but against home specialist John Needham, Martin Wallace couldn't prevent a string of 20 shots without reply in ten ends and eventually lost 31-9.

Result (Stamford names only):

Lincs Mixed League Division One: Spalding 106 (10 pts) Stamford 103 (8). M King, J Suffling, S Suffling, D King won 24-14; T Barwell, V Du'Kett, D Mackie, M Wallace lost 9-31; Mick Smith, I Reading, A March, R March won 21-20; E Wallace, J Hare, C Ford, P Bailey won 21-18; C Warters, A Lonslow, S Moir, B Warters won 28-23.

WIN FOR HELEN AND NEIL

The combination of Helen Holroyd and Neil Wright reached the second round of the national mixed pairs with a comprehensive 21-5 victory at Grantham over Chris Hodgeson and Adam Berridge. They lost only three of the 15 ends played.

HARRIS LOSES TO SMITH AGAIN

Stephen Harris, winner of the Stamford IBC club members' singles earlier this year is out of the national champion of champions competition at the first hurdle. Just like last year, he was beaten 21-13 in a high quality contest by Spalding's Graham Smith.

Trailing 1-6, he had a series of excellent ends to lead 11-6 before Smith took command. Harris had the chance to close the gap but when holding two shots and a chance to add a third with his last bowl, he inadvertently gave shot away. At 18-13 Smith trailed the jack for game.