Harris loses narrowly to Fed singles holder

Post date: Feb 11, 2016 9:57:04 PM

Stephen Harris just failed to guarantee a place for a Stamford bowler in the final of the Northants Bowling Federation 4-bowl singles when he went down 16-21 to the defending champion Simon Law ( Parkway).

At times only millimetres separated opposing bowls in the head before Law edged into a semi final clash with Harris's club mates either Derek King or John Holroyd.

In the other half of the draw, Doug Want will play James Harford, who beat Adam Warrington on his home green after an epic struggle over more than two hours.

Warrington held sway on several occasions and led 16-14, holding two shots, only for Harford to convert with a fortunate deflection. At 18-18, Warrington drew shot when three down, but finally lost 19-21.

In the two-bowl rinks Bob Warters, Tony Scarr and Roger Martin got off to a wretched start against Adam Warrington, Jon Earl and Martyn Dolby, conceding 17 shots in the first six ends before Scarr and Martin switched and they pulled back to trail by only seven. However, when Dolby twice trailed the jack to kill the end when shots down, he was eventually able to a secure a 24-16 winning advantage.

John and Moira Holroyd reached the semi-final,of the mixed pairs with a16-15 defeat of Jenny Harvey and Howard Shipp at Peterborough.

Trailing 0-6 after three ends, they switched positions, as the rules allow and with two shots on the 21st forced the extra end, which they won.

John and Moira, however, faced a tough uphill struggle against Pat Thomson and Dion Auckland (Grantham) when they trailed 1-10 after only a handful of ends in their Lincs Mixed pairs. They fought back only to finally concede at 14-23.

Despite picking up a late flurry of shots - including 15 by Ann Cullingworth's rink in the last seven ends, Stamford's women's team, competing in the Trudy Bates Lincs county league at Sleaford, lost by just one overall, 102-103.

All rinks were struggling to overcome the slower Sleaford surface, before the Stamford players finally got to grips with it with a handful of ends to play but left their rally just too late.

Rink honours went to Jan Want, Ann Northen, Peggy Birch and Cullingworth who finally triumphed 32-14.

Result (Stamford names only):

Lincs County Trudy Bates League A: Sleaford 103 (12pts) Stamford 102 (4). B Sims, M MacKellar, D Mackie, S Moir lost 14-24; J Brennan, M Broadbelt, S Suffling, C Ford won 27-15; J Want, A Northen, P Birch, A Cullingworth won 32-14; R March, C Warters, M Bloxham, J Robinson lost 16-28; Moira Dolby, M Andrews, J Dupree, S Henshaw lost 13-22.

D & M Sports from Spalding will be at the Stamford club on March 10 with its shop of bowls equipment for sale to coincide with the Junior Singles tournament it is sponsoring for young bowlers aged 17 and under.

Entry for the tournament -with at least three rounds of sets matches guaranteed - is £3 per player and it is hoped up to 32 of the region's next generation of top bowlers will take part, with the club's encouragement.

For further information and to download an entry form, see the junior section or call Mike Ramsden on 01780 460490.