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‘A’ v ‘B’ derby clashes under threat
‘A’ v ‘B’ derby clashes under threat
Plans agreed for Lincolnshire Indoor Bowling Association to revert to promotion and relegation next season will signal a premature end to ‘derby’ matches between Stamford’s A and B teams in the Men’s League.
In recent seasons, since the Covid pandemic disrupted the county’s bowls leagues, the men’s, mixed and senior competitions have been split into north and south regions. But from next winter season the top three clubs in each geographical section will form first divisions. The rest will compete in respective second divisions.
The current A team captain Tony Barwell, speaking after Saturday’s A v B match, said that it was a great shame that the county had voted to end the current league format. The club had got used to playing more locally in a friendly atmosphere.
Stamford are the most southerly indoor club in the county and will have further to travel. And he hinted that with some clubs no longer providing meals which traditionally accompany matches, it may reduce the number of players making themselves available.
Member of both teams preparing for action before the game.
After defeating their second string for the second time this season 115-51 on Saturday to secure maximum points, Stamford A are set to finish runners-up to Spalding. It means Stamford B will be in the ‘relegation zone’ so there are fears it could be the last such match for the foreseeable future.
The latest encounter promised to be a spirited clash, with the B team giving a debut to 12 year old Freddie Knapp, one of the club’s talented juniors. But the A side soon took overall control as Trevor Collins’ rink raced into an 18-0 lead against Martin Hewitt.
Elsewhere Roger Martin’s quartet were turning the screw on Dean Wilkinson’s four with a series of big counts, eventually taking the rink honours 37-7, while Knapp played his part in a comeback against Jeff Pitt before finally losing 15-19.
Freddie Knapp in action
Stamford A and B complete their fixtures on Saturday at home to Grantham and away to Sleaford respectively.
Lincs IBA Men’s League (South): Stamford A 112 (14 pts) Stamford B (51 (0). Stamford A names first. B Warters, G King, M Linnell, R Martin beat D Morgan, P Shaw, I Zucchetti, D Wilkinson 37-7; J Pryor, D Heffernan, C Ballard, J Pitt bt J Suffling, F Knapp, A Hynes, B Orme 19-15; T Barwell, M Ramsden, D Oakey, T Collins bt D Bruce, C Jones, A Patterson, M Hewitt 28-16; J Pearson, A March, N Wright, A Warrington bt R Blake, G Clarke, M Dye, D Henshaw 28-13.
FOOTNOTE: With its local authority due to close its sports complex for at least 18 months for major re-construction work, Spalding Indoor Bowls Club is negotiating a temporary move to the former Long Sutton IBC which closed in 2017 and will need major investment to bring it up to standard.
Stamford and District Indoor Bowls Association's Annual General Meeting is due to be held at the club on Wednesday April 16 at 7.30pm when team captains and club officials will be elected and motions decided. Following the meeting there will be a chance to ask general questions.
Last end defeat for women
Last end defeat for women
Stamford women completed their county fixtures in the Trudy Bates League, narrowly defeated by Lincoln 71-69.
Despite losing on two completed rinks skipped by Lynn Tuck and Denise Mackie, they held a narrow lead with one match to finish, thanks to a 24-11 triumph by Rosemary Roberts, Ann Northen, Gill Oakey and Rose March.
Sadly however, conceding a 5-count by the remaining rink on the last end cost them a valuable overall win, one of several close calls in a season of near-misses.
The Lincs Women’s IBA will retain their regional format for the 2025-26 season.
Lincs (Trudy Bates) Women’s League (South): Stamford 69 (2) Lincoln 71 (12). Stamford names only. R Roberts, A Northen, G Oakey, R March won 24-11; J Hynes, V Du’Kett, M Holroyd, D Mackie lost 16-19; S Gentry, E Wallace, R Downs, C Ford lost 15-21; J Lonslow, L Hulme, S Suffling, L Tuck lost 14-20.
More national finalists
More national finalists
Apart from the women’s senior pairs and men’s Senior fours (reported earlier) Stamford IBC will also be represented at the national finals in Nottingham in four other disciplines.
As well as the Under 18 singles, Owen Aspinall contests the inter-county Under 18 double rink semi-final (v Kent) on March 30 and the Under 30 double rink against Mid Gloucester IBC as part of a Spalding team with Stamford clubmates Stephen Harris and Ollie Jeapes on April 12.
Martyn Dolby and Jeff Pitt are also part of the Lincs team challenging Surrey for the Over 60 Inter-county title on April 7 having beaten Yorkshire, Durham, Notts and Northants.
Owen Aspinall, the 16-year-old business student from Stamford IBC, failed in his bid to reach the finals of the Lincs IBA under 18 singles, when he was beaten in a tie break semi-final at Boston IBC by Dan Stanley from Louth. Ollie Jeapes had to withdraw through illness.
Relegation confirmed
Relegation confirmed
Stamford’s mixed team completed their Lincs League (South) fixtures with a home defeat by Sleaford, confirming their relegation to the newly formed second division next season.
But they were by no means disgraced, claiming four of the 14 points at stake in a 78-85 shots deficit.
Lincs Mixed League (South): Stamford 78 (4) Sleaford 85 (10). Stamford names only. M Smith, L Cave, R Blake, I Smith lost 17-23; J Hynes, G Hulme, R March, D Cave won 23-16; R Roberts, J Lonslow, D Bruce, A Hynes; won 23-21; L Hulme, S Henshaw, A March, D Henshaw lost 15-25.
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