Men's 'A' go top of the table

Stamford Men's A who defeated Sleaford: From the left (back row) Wayne Aspinall, Jon Earl, Roger Martin, Richard Allam, Neil Wright, Cliff Watson, Jeff Newson, Paul Bailey, Martyn Dolby. (front) Bob Warters, Jay Travis-Jenner, Chris Ballard, Dave Hudson, Mike Ramsden, Owen Aspinall, Adam Warrington, Mike humphreys, Mal Smith, Mick Linnell, Alan Romaine.

WITH A 25-shot victory against Sleaford, in their first home match of the season, Stamford Men's 'A' team regained the leadership of the Lincolnshire First Division, overtaking Lincoln who had earlier taken maximum points against Grantham.

But it wasn't as convincing as the 120-95 score and 16 points might suggest. Sleaford proved stubborn opposition and might have picked up more than the two points they salvaged, had more good fortune turned their way.

They held the overall lead in the early stages before the Stamford players established a 20-shot advantage which they held on to until the end.

In a epic battle with old rival Trevor Bannister, Martyn Dolby's rink squeezed home 24-23, while captain Paul Bailey had to kill the last end against Paul Roberts by trailing the jack off the rink to snap up a vital shot on the re-spot. He included 10-year-old Owen Aspinall in his rink which won 25-23.

Elsewhere Jeff Newson's quartet picked up four shots on the penultimate to put their result beyond doubt, while Jonathan Earl snagged the rink honours alongside Richard Allam, Mick Linnell and Mike Humphreys thanks to 17 shots in eight ends, including a six-count on the 18th end.

Stamford 'A' have 74 points from five matches with Lincoln on 70, from four out of five home matches.

Results (Stamford names only):

Lincolnshire Men's League First Division. Alan Romaine, Owen Aspinall, Adam Warrington, Paul Bailey won 25-23; Wayne Aspinall, Chris Ballard, Bob Warters, Roger Martin lost 17-22; Dave Hudson, Mal Smith, Cliff Watson, Martyn Dolby won 24-23; Mike Ramsden, Jay Travis-Jenner, Neil Wright, Jeff Newson won 26-14; Richard Allam, Mick Linnell, Mike Humphreys, Jon Earl won 28-13. BW

LINCOLNSHIRE COMPETITIONS DRAWS

Having qualified through the Spalding club, Stamford-based bowler Stephen Harris begins his defence of the Lincolnshire County indoor singles against Stamford's Chris Ballard at Lincoln IBC on February 9.

Other Stamford qualifiers are Alan Romaine who plays Kevin Ekins from Spalding, John Holroyd (v George Draper, Lincoln), Mike Ramsden (v Simon Reeson, Louth), Derek King (v Sam Ashton, Lincoln) and Gary Oliver (v Paul Oke, Sleaford).

The men's sets singles takes place at Sleaford on February 16 where Stamford have five qualifiers.

King plays Trevor Bannister from Sleaford while the other Stamford qualifiers are: Holroyd (Alan Watts, Lincoln), Adam Warrington (Nick Orrey, Grantham), Ramsden (Graham Smith, Spalding) and Keith Gentry (A Cave, Louth).

Christine Ford is Stamford's only woman competitor through to the knock-out rounds of the Over 60 singles at Boston on February 17. She plays G Smith from Grantham, the winner playing either her clubmate Bob Warters or J Molson (Skegness).

Twice former winner Martyn Dolby faces John Maury (Sleaford), while Richard Allam takes on Trevor Bannister (Sleaford).

Other county disciplines are played on a home or away basis (by February 10) including the men's pairs and mixed pairs where Stamford bowlers have each been drawn at home.

Mixed pairs: H Holroyd & C Ballard v C Spencer & J West (Boston); M & D King v M Davies & D Bristow (Sleaford), J & M Holroyd v Davis & Meakins (Grantham).

Men's pairs: A Romaine and T Barwell v M Humphreys & J Holroyd; A Warrington & N Wright v A Reeson & R Vinter (Boston).

Men's triples: M & J Hebden, T Christie v M Tomlin Jr. (Boston), T Berridge (Grantham) v C Watson, P Edwards & Roger Martin.

Fours: Spalding (M Orrey) v M Humphreys, M Linnell, A Warrington, J Earl; Boston (J West) v O Aspinall, G Knights, C Ballard, W Aspinall.

For singles times and further information visit www.lincolnshireiba.co.uk