Flying start for newly-promoted mixed team

Post date: Nov 6, 2016 9:36:22 PM

After winning promotion from the second division as champions, Stamford mixed team made a spectacular start to their first division programme with a 50-shot defeat of Boston.

While the visitors were hampered by calls on some of the leading players for a Top Club event, Stamford showed no mercy, picking up 18 of the 20 points available with a 120-70 victory.

Eyeing each other from opposites sides of the green were skips Cliff Watson and Martyn Dolby each vying for the best winning rink prize which eventually went to Watson and his team-mates Joan Robinson, Margaret Bloxham and Alan Barnes with a 33-10 win.

The mixed team continue their programme on Sunday with a visit to Spalding (2pm).

Results (Stamford names only):

Lincs Mixed League (Division one): Stamford 120 (18 pts) Boston 70 (2). J Robinson, M Bloxham, A Barnes, C Watson won 33-10; C Barnes, D Ford, C Ford, K Rippin lost 14-19; M Andrews, D Mackie, T Mackie, P Bailey won 19-18; J Brennan, C Warters, J Little, B Warters won 24-13; M Holroyd, S Suffling, D Hudson, M Dolby won 30-10.

Stamford's women bowlers put up stout resistance against local rivals Spalding, who fielded several internationals and national champions in their Yetton Trophy team, before finally going down 58-79.

Margaret Bloxham's and Peggy Birch's rinks both won narrowly at Stamford - Birch trailed 1-12 at one stage - but the away rinks found little joy against rinks skipped by internationals Chelsea Tomlin and current English singles winner Annie Dunham.

Credit, however, to Chris Ford's quartet who led by three at 15 ends only to drop a count on the last of the 18 ends.

Stamford now compete in the Yetton Plate on Saturday against Peterborough who lost in the previous round to Spalding 40-115.

Results (Stamford names, Spalding skips):

Yetton Trophy: Stamford 58 Spalding 79. Home - J Robinson, C Barnes, F Rogers, M Bloxham but G Haney 16-15; B Sims, E Wallace, R March but S Wade 19-15. Away - J Brennan, C Warters, S Suffling, C Ford lost to A Dunham 13-16; J Want, D Mackie, M Holroyd, G Edwards lost to C Tomlin 10-33.

Against two of Spalding's finest, Mick Humphreys and John Holroyd put on a masterclass in end-rink bowling to reach the second round of the EIBA National Pairs. They beat 2015 double English singles and mixed pairs champion Scott Dunham and current England international Matt Whyers 20-17.

The pair always looked to have the edge and with five of the 18 ends to play led 15-13 and with an end to play led 20-15.

However, Whyers trailed the jack into the corner of the rink to hold five shots only for

Holroyd to draw through a narrow gap for third bowl. Whyers tried to remove it but narrowly failed.

In the champion of champion singles, Martyn Dolby groaned when he was pitched on to the notorious rink one at Peterborough against his nemesis Nick Wilkie.

But the Stamford club singles winner, facing Wilkie's tight-running Edge bowls, found a perfect inside line and length to the jack and after leading 9-0 and 12-2 ran out a comprehensive 21-11 winner.

Dolby now plays Spalding's Graham Smith who beat clubmate Matt Orrey 21-5 in the last round.

Stephen Harris lost in a tie-break against Spalding's Jordan Philpott in the Under 25 singles.

Stamford A comfortably leapt over the first hurdle in pursuit of success in the Over 60 Double Rink competition, accounting for Sleaford B 42-24.

Against Sleaford's veteran Aubrey Bristow, Martyn Dolby's home quartet picked up six shots on the second end and raced into a 16-2 lead after 11 ends. at Sleaford Roger Martin's rink took a 13-7 lead but finally had to settle for a draw with the match already beyond Sleaford's reach.

They play the next round on Tuesday, November 29 against Sleaford A, while Stamford B entertain Skegness.