Last end defeat by Boston in Top Club event

Post date: Oct 13, 2013 4:46:36 PM

For the second successive year, Stamford lost to local rivals Boston in a nail-biting finish to the first round of the English Top Club Mixed competition which pitches men's and women's singles, pairs, triples and fours in head to head match-play.

And it went down to the last bowl of the mixed fours before the visitors emerged with a 12-4 points win, claiming three of the five disciplines.

Stamford had taken an early 4-0 points lead when Adam Warrington and Christine Barnes each won their 21-end singles match 19-9 and 15-13 respectively.

In the triples and pairs Stamford performed with great credit but were always up against it. They looked to have the upper hand overall (with an added shots advantage) when the mixed rink of Joyce Foster, Connie Cox, Cliff Watson and Martin Bailey pulled back from a 5-12 deficit to lead 21-15 with two ends to play.

However, they hadn't reckoned on a Boston fight back when the bowl of experienced skip Les Feary clipped out two Stamford bowls for a six count to reduce the arrears to 19-21 with an end to play.

And with the head packed on the edge of the ditch Boston secured the three shots they needed for a rink win and overall victory margin.

Results (Stamford names first)

EIBA Top Club: Stamford 87 (4 pts) Boston 84 (12). Warrington bt S Reeson 19-9, C Barnes bt

T Reeson 15-13; S Bailey/M Dolby lost to D Wilson Rogers/ J West 15-18; R Warters/S Suffling/P Bailey lost toA Field/ J Smith/ M Tomlin 17-19; J Foster/C Cox/ C Watson/ M Bailey lost to J Sharp/S Shaw/P Flatters/L Feary 21-25.

Friendly: Stamford 97 Oundle 108 (Stamford names only): P Barton, S Wright, G Watson, C Lunn lost 16-20; D Lunn, S Murphy, F Gartside, T Freeman lost 12-20; A Rutter, N Corby, J Frith, S Bailey lost 11-18; S Smye, S Rutter, S Evi, G Corby lost 9-23; R Roberts, H Watson, K Moss, N Kettle won 21-13; P Herrick, B Orme, K Rawlins, B Sims won 28-14.