Historic win for 'A'team over Spalding

Post date: Oct 21, 2013 1:30:41 PM

Believed to be for the first time since they were formed in 1990, the indoor bowlers of Stamford Men's A team have beaten old rivals and Lincolnshire League champions Spalding.

Although individually some bowlers have found success against one of county's premier clubs, a team littered with internationals, it has always proved too strong as a unit - until on Saturday in a Division One clash, Stamford finally got the upper hand.

Spalding were without three of their regular stars but still included two current internationals - Matt Whyers and Martin Spencer - and were looking to repeat a succession of wins in League and knock-out competitions.

After a sluggish start Stamford rinks skipped by Martyn Dolby - making a welcome return - Peter Edwards and Keith Rippin took command as Spalding struggled with the increased pace of the home carpet and stretched the overall lead to 20 shots at the halfway stage.

But Spalding are always dangerous in the closing stages and it needed Stamford to keep their focus.

After trailing in the early stages, Adam Warrington's rink picked up 10 shots in three ends to lead 11-8 but then dropped 15 shots in seven ends as the Dawson brothers piled on the pressure.

Despite sterling efforts elsewhere, the match looked to be slipping away until Warrington claimed five vital shots in the last three ends to reduce the arrears and help earn Stamford a 97-86 victory and 14 valuable points.

Other highlights included the superb form of returning veteran Barrie Plowman at lead and the pressure applied by Richard Allam, Mike Ramsden Cliff Watson and Keith Rippin in subduing Whyers and Spencer.

Result

Lincs League Division One: Stamford A 97 (14pts), Spalding A 86 (4pts). Stamford names only: B Plowman, J Holroyd, B Warters, P Edwards won 19-12; A Romaine, W Morris, D King, M Bailey lost 12-28; J Bailey, T Harris, P Bailey, M Dolby won 23-13; S Harris, M Cullingworth, R Montgomery, A Warrington lost 21-23; R Allam, M Ramsden, C Watson, K Rippin won 22-10.

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In the national singles Warrington and John Holroyd have reached the third round with defeats of Graham Wright (Spalding) and Martin Tomlin (Boston) 21-14 and 21-18 respectively.

Despite dropping a four count on the 21st end to allow Tomlin to draw level, Holroyd claimed a vital three to win the match on the next end.

In the pairs Richard Allam and Derek King went down 7-30 to Jordan Philpott and Graham Smith from Spalding, while club champions Tony Barwell and Peter Cox also lost to another Spalding combination 9-26. Derek Veasey and Chris Ballard lost to N & R Orrey from Grantham 18-19.

In the Over 55 triples Mike Ramsden, Peter Edwards and Martyn Dolby won 17-16 away to John Needham's Spalding trio.

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This weekend, Stamford Men''s B entertain Sleaford on Saturday (2pm) with the visitors' two Egham Trophy mixed rinks making a return trip to Stamford on Sunday (10am).

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Bob Warters (Ketton BC and Stamford IBC) was elected deputy president of the Northants Bowling Federation at the County's annual meeting last week. Bob (65) will take over the presidency from Malcolm Squires (Belvedere) for a term of two years in 2014.

A recently retired golf-writer and former publisher of Bowls International, he plays in the county's Adams and Derbyshire Trophy sides and was a member of the Stamford Over 60s rink which reached the English final in March. He follows a family tradition as both his late parents were EBF national presidents in the 1970s.

Valerie Du'Kett (also Ketton and Stamford IBC) is due to take over the lady president's role of the Northants Women's Bowling Federation in November.

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Chairman Keith Rippin and his wife Edna took a group from Stamford IBC to Potters last week for the annual tournament against teams from all over the country with the rink of Dave Hudson, Wally Kettle, Margaret Bloxham and Chris Ballard reaching the quarter-finals.

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D & M Sports will be bringing their bowls shop to the club throughout the weekend of Nov 2/3. As well as the latest bowls and accessories they will also have shoes, trousers, shirts and skirts.