Late stumbles cost Stamford A vital points

Post date: Oct 12, 2019 5:25:34 PM

Late slip ups cost Stamford A what may prove to be valuable points in their challenge to regain the Lincolnshire Men's championship they won in 2017.

After last week's whitewash of newly-promoted Stamford B - and in a side containing ten year old Olly Jeapes and Owen Aspinall (11) - they looked to be heading for a repeat 18-point maximum at home to Louth.

But a combination of perhaps weariness, loss of concentration and a late surge by their rejuvenated opponents cost Stamford vital shots as the match entered its closing minutes.

Roger Martin's rink led 13-8 at the 13th end but against Simon Reeson's quartet, dropped a five and a four count and three singles to eventually lose 20-14. Next door Trevor Collins, who included young Jeapes at No.2, led 14-0 after picking up seven shots on the second end but lost eight successive ends and eventually conceded two on the final end and went down 19-18.

Captain Paul Bailey,who had schoolboy Owen leading on his rink, conceded a point when Louth won the last three of the last four ends.

While Martyn Dolby's rink won 26-9 after a slow start, chiefly responsible for the overall team victory was the rink of Wayne Aspinall, Chris Ballard, Neil Wright and Adam Warrington who led 27-0 at one stage and eventually cantered home by a 42-8 margin to take the rink honours.

The result extends - at least temporarily - Stamford A's lead at the top of the table with 31 points from two matches.

Result (Stamford names first)

Lincs Men's League Division One: Stamford A 119 (13 pts) Louth A 72 (5). M Humphreys, M Linnell, P Edwards, M Dolby won 26-9; M Ramsden, O Jeapes, B Warters, T Collins lost 19-18; Mal Smith, M Jeapes, J Travis-Jenner, Roger Martin lost 20-14; O Aspinall, M Wallace, R Allam, P Bailey drew 19-19; W Aspinall, C Ballard, N Wright, A Warrington won 42-8