Harris and Dolby in outstanding pairs win

Post date: Nov 16, 2015 5:37:54 PM

The In one of the highest quality games seen at Stamford, Stephen Harris and Martyn Dolby reached the next stage of the national pairs in a bid to emulate their last 16 place last season.

Up against current England player Matt Orrey and former International regular Dion Auckland (both Grantham) they finally won 23-14 after some sparkling bowls in which heads of 16 bowls could hardly be covered by a doormat.

Observed one of the club's most experienced players, Barrie Plowman, watching from the side lines: "I've not seen a better game, with all four players at the top of their form. Draw, draw, draw, short jack, long jack,medium jack; it made no difference. Superb stuff."

Dolby was also involved in the Over 60 singles, beating county president Richard White 21-9 and now plays either Mike Ramsden or Alan Romaine.

In other singles events, Ray Keating lost 21-13 to Nick Orrey (Grantham) 21-12, John Pearson was beaten 21-3 at Boston by Adrian Field and Shirley Suffling went down 21-13 in the Area final of the champions of champions to Di Wilson-Rogers (Boston).

Hopes of a clash between two Stamford teams in the national Over 60s Double rink, were dashed when Stamford C lost by 22 shots against Sleaford.

A win would have pitched the two Stamford C rinks against either their own A team (winners over national champions Boston two weeks ago) or Skegness B, a match due to be played on Monday with a rink at Exeter Gardens and another at the seaside, with aggregate scores to count.

Stamford C were always facing a tough challenge, 20-9 behind at halfway overall and 30-15 down after 15 ends.

At Sleaford Cliff Watson's quartet never recovered from being 4-17 behind while Keith Rippin's rink were never in front and finally lost by three shots.

Result (Stamford names only):

National Over 60s Double rink: Stamford 22 Sleaford 44. Home- Mike Ramsden, Steve Travis, Doug Want, Keith Rippin lost 16-19; Away - Tony Barwell, Ray Keating, Richard Montgomery, Cliff Watson lost 6-25.

Lincolnshire Indoor Bowling Association, to which Stamford IBC is affiliated, has won a £12,000 sponsorship deal from the Lincolnshire Co-Operative, a business which includes shops, garages, travel agents and funeral care.

Worth £4,000 a year to support the county's men's and women's teams it is likely to include sponsored shirts as well as boosting county competition prizemoney.

Says county president Richard White:"This is a tremendous boost for the game of bowls, the players, the clubs and the county. If clubs use the dividends card, club will in turn get the benefit. This is a very exciting opportunity."

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In those Lincolnshire county competitions, played internally upto inter-club qualifying stages, Stamford women have been competing with wins including those skipped by Chris Ford ( pairs), Sue Moir (triples) and Joan Robinson and Flick Rogers (fours).

Among the men's results are wins for Tony Barwell over Mike Ramsden (singles) and Alan Romaine and Ray Keating over Dave Heffernan and Viv Evans.

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On Saturday, Stamford men's A entertain Lincoln (2.10) after Stamford women play Sleaford in the Yetton Plate (10am).

Yetton teams: home - C Barnes, A Cullingworth, M Bloxham, J Robinson; A Martin, B Sims, P Birch, S Moir. away - J Brennan, J Dupree, S Suffling, C Ford; J Want, D Mackie, M Holroyd, G Edwards. On Sunday the mixed team visits Skegness and Stamford play Deeping in a friendly.