Last gasp win for Neil and Helen

Post date: Dec 21, 2018 9:47:34 PM

Helen Holroyd and Neil Wright scored an outstanding victory in the national mixed pairs, defeating England internationals Ruby Hill and Graham Smith in a thrilling match at Stamford, which kept a good crowd of late night spectators on the edge of their seats.

The Spalding pair, with Smith substituting at skip for fellow international Matt Whyers, took an early 7-3 lead, despite the traditional home advantage of Rink One.

However, Wright trailed the jack for a five count on the 9th end, which paved the way for a 15-8 lead. The visitors fought back to tie the scores at 15-apiece before counts of two and a single put the Stamford pairs back in front at 18-15 playing the decisive 18th and last end.

Smith and Hill held three shots before Wright trailed the jack with his penultimate bowl leaving Smith needing to regain the three needed to force an extra end, which he just failed to do.

For a place in the Area Five final, the Stamford duo will now host Spalding's Lauren Finbow and Jordan Philpott who earlier beat Paul Bailey and daughter Katie.

SENIOR PAIR GO THROUGH IN NATIONAL

When Trevor Collins and Tony Scarr dropped successive shots of six and four on the first two ends against Bob Warters and Roger Martin they were always going to face an uphill battle for a place in the next round of the Over 60s pairs.

However successive four counts and a two in four ends took them to within two shots at 14-16 after 13 ends before their fellow Stamford players secured a 24-14 with a late surge of eight shots in four ends.

Warters and Martin will host either Graham Wright or John Needham from Spalding in the next round.

LINCS COMPETITIONS: FINAL QUALIFIERS

Final qualifiers for the county competitions, held at Stamford IBC between September and December are John Holroyd, Paul Bailey and Mike Humphreys who beat Kevin Vinter's rink 22-10 in the triples.

Gary Oliver also qualified for the men's singles, defeating Mark Hebden.

John Holroyd has qualified in no fewer than five disciplines.

The final qualifiers are as follows:

Men's singles - John Holroyd, Gary Oliver, Derek King and Alan Romaine, Mike Ramsden, Chris Ballard. The players will compete against qualifiers from other clubs at Lincoln on February 9 for a place in the semi-finals.

Men's singles sets - Mike Ramsden, John Holroyd, Adam Warrington, Derek King, Keith Gentry (Sleaford, February 16).

Open Over 60 singles - Martyn Dolby, Bob Warters, Richard Allam, Christine Ford (Boston, February 17).

Pairs - Neil Wright & Adam Warrington; Mike Humphreys & John Holroyd; Alan Romaine. & Tony Barwell; triples - John Holroyd, Paul Bailey & Mike Humphreys; Mark Hebden, James Hebden & Trevor Christie; Cliff Watson, Peter Edwards & Roger Martin. fours - Mike Humphreys, Mick Linnell, Adam Warrington & Neil Wright; Owen Aspinall, Garry Knights, Chris Ballard & Wayne Aspinall.

Mixed pairs, all of whom have been drawn at home in the next round (by February 10 - Margaret & Derek King; Moira & John Holroyd; Helen Holroyd & Chris Ballard.

For the full draws visit www.lincolnshireiba.co.uk

RE-ARRANGED MIXED MATCH

Stamford's mixed team will play Lincoln B in the re-arranged county league division two clash on January 12 (1.30pm). For this away fixture players are requested to submit their names on the club noticeboard as soon as possible.