Harrogate next for Stamford in Denny Plate last 16

Post date: Dec 14, 2014 5:51:38 PM

With outstanding performances both at home and away against Rugby Thornfield, Stamford IBC bowlers marched into the last 16 of the prestigious English inter-club Denny Plate competition securing an attractive tie against Harrogate on Saturday, January 17.

While Stamford's 16-man team - playing two rinks of four players in Warwickshire and two rinks at home - were winning 97-66, the Yorkshiremen accounted for Copeland IBC (Cumbria) 83-66.

Rugby came to Stamford confident they just needed to keep the scores tight and allow their home rinks to do the damage on their tricky, slightly more sluggish surface and when they led overall by nearly 20 shots at halfway the plan looked to be working.

But they hadn't reckoned on Stamford's resolve away from home and after Keith Rippin's rink dropped a three and a six in successive ends, he marshalled his experienced men to quieten their young opponents with accurate drawing skills. On the adjoining rink, Roger Martin's quartet, for whom Alan Romaine led with excellent consistency, were starting to get on top of their challengers.

With the telephone lines between the two venues red hot, the Stamford home players took great heart from the news that their travelling eight were keeping them in a game where only the aggregate total counted.

And thanks especially to some outstanding lead bowling from the recalled Dave Hudson and support play from John Holroyd on Peter Edwards' rink, Rugby were denied a single shot between the 10th and 15th ends as Martyn Dolby also rallied his men from 4-15 down, also against some heavy artillery.

Eventually Stamford ran out comfortable winners by 31 shots to reach the last 16 for only the second time in their history.

Said team captain Adam Warrington (pictured above): "It was a great result for the club with particular praise for Dave Hudson's leading. But the away rinks must take great credit. For them to record two wins against previously unbeaten players was outstanding and gave us a lot of encouragement when we were behind on the overall scoreboard."

Result (Stamford names only)

Denny Plate: Stamford 97 Rugby Thornfield 66. Home - S Harris, W Morris, J Earl, M Dolby lost 18-21; D Hudson, J Holroyd, A Warrington, P Edwards won 32-13. Away - A Romaine, R Keating, B Warters, R Martin won 24-12; R Allam, D King, C Watson, K Rippin won 23-20

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Stamford bowlers continue to make progress in the national Over 60s double rink demolishing Grantham 60-29 to earn a tie against either Horncastle or Boston.

Their local rivals were no match for a Stamford away quartet who raced into an 11-0 lead after five ends and eventually ran out 29-11 winners. Martyn Dolby's home quartet dropped a four on the first end but hit back with five and went on to win 31-18.

Scores: Home - D Hudson, R Montgomery, P Edwards, M Dolby won 31-18; Away- A Romaine, P Cox, B Warters, R Martin won 29-11.

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In individual national competitions, Derek King earned a place in the Area 6 semi-final of the Over 60s singles against Boston's Mick Tomlin, thanks to a 21-5 defeat of fellow Stamford bowler Peter Banks.

Said King: "Neither of us played particularly well but I just had enough to win it on the day."

Bob Warters and Martyn Dolby also reached an Area 6 semi-final in the Over 60s pairs against clubmates Alan Romaine and Keith Rippin thanks to a narrow defeat of Boston's Richard White and Ron Flowers.

They led 11-10 at halfway then picked up a big count with seven bowls locked around the jack. However, they let Boston back in with six shots in three ends and trailed 22-19 with three ends to play until Dolby tickled the jack behind from White's toucher, which eventually led to a four count and the Stamford pair held on to win 25-23.

Chris Ballard, John Holroyd and Ray Keating put up a brave fight against the holders of the English indoor triples from Spalding - skipped by Graham Smith. They even had the temerity to lead the England internationals 9-8 after 12 ends before bowing out 10-15.

Stephen Harris lost 2-1 in sets to Spalding youngster Ruby Hill in the Under 25 singles but is still in the senior pairs with Martyn Dolby, facing a home clash with Spalding's Andy Dawson and his brother.

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Stamford's ever-improving women's team playing in the Trudy Bates county league landed 12 useful points with a home win against local rivals Sleaford.

For the second successive match Chris Ford's quartet took the home honours with a 23-12 win contributing to an overall 97-80 scoreline, while Flick Rogers' and Glenys Edwards' rinks also deserve credit for their 20-14 and 20-15 wins respectively.

Results (Stamford names only)

M MacKellar, J Robinson, M Holroyd, C Warters lost 16-19; A Martin, P Barton, P Birch, G Edwards won 20-15; J Gamble, J Dupree, A Cullingworth, F Rogers won 20-14; M Andrews, M Bloxham, R March, S Moir lost 18-20; J Brennan, M Broadbelt, S Suffling, C Ford won 23-12

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Lincoln IBC is rarely a happy hunting ground for points but Stamford's Over 60s proved the exception with a terrific 97-89 defeat of the City's C team, claiming 14 of the 18 points at stake

Stamford now head the Lincs Division Three table with 82 points from seven completed matches but must maintain the momentum with today's (Friday) fixture at home to lowly Skegness B.

Results (Stamford names only)

Lincs Over 60s League: Lincoln C 86 (4pts), Stamford 93 (14): D Howarth, D Ingham, T Weaver, P Cox lost 12-22; T Barwell, D Bruce, T Mackie, J Geary woin 21-10; A Chapman, D Veasey, D Heffernan, D Henshaw lost 18-19; A Lonslow, R Graham, P Banks, A Horton won 20-19; W Kettle, K Vinter, M Owens, R Harvey won 22-18.

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Stamford IBC will be staging it annual New Year free Open morning on Saturday, January 10 in a bid to attract new bowlers to its Exeter Gardens stadium.

The club will be open from 9.30am until noon for potential new members to try the sport under the watchful eye of its coaches and experienced bowlers. All ages are welcome and equipment will be provided free of charge.