Louth A prove difficult hurdle for championship chasers

Post date: Feb 2, 2019 8:34:09 PM

The 22 point lead that Stamford Men's A team held at the top of the first division of the Lincolnshire League after defeating Louth was immediately trimmed by two after their closest rivals Lincoln claimed 16 points in a narrow 108-104 victory at Grantham.

Stamford now have 121 points from eight matches, Lincoln have 101 but with a game in hand.

Stamford entertained a short-handed Louth A but were only able to claim 14 of the 18 points at stake with a 123-71.5 shot win allowing Lincoln to close the gap at the top and make Stamford's visit there on March 2 even more crucial.

With Louth only able to raise three out of five complete rinks it meant two players on the two short-handed rinks would each play three bowls instead of the regular two. In turn they would be penalised 25 per-cent of their total score.

And while it proved two much of a handicap against Jonathan Earl's quartet - who transformed their match with six and four counts in successive ends, on his rink, Louth skip Simon Reeson managed to inspire an outstanding performance from his two compatriots - Mike Catlow and Dave Warren - against Roger Martin, winning by just one and a half shots!

It was a similar success story for Louth veteran John Welsh, whose rink won 21-18 with three shots on the last end against Stamford captain Paul Bailey.

Elsewhere the rinks skipped by Martyn Dolby and Jeff Newson grabbed valuable points.

For Dolby an early 16-1 lead was finally converted into a 33-12 triumph. Newson's four also led 13-2 with six on the seventh end but then had to fight off a 14-shot comeback before finally prevailing 23-20.

Promotion-chasing Stamford B host Horncastle tomorrow (Feb 3 at 1.10pm) aiming to make up the 12 points they trail the Division Two leaders.

Results (Stamford names only):

Lincolnshire men's League Division One: Stamford A 123 (14 pts) Louth A 71.5 (4). M Ramsden, J Holroyd, N Wright, J Newson won 23-20; A Romaine, J Travis-Jenner, A Warrington, P Bailey lost 18-21; W Aspinall, C Ballard, B Warters, Roger Martin lost 19-20.25; R Allam, M Linnell, T Collins, J Earl won 30-8.25; Mal Smith, M Humphreys, P Edwards, M Dolby won 33-12.

MEN'S SECOND STRING LOOKING TO JOIN CLUBMATES IN TOP DIVISION

With a crushing 97-shot defeat of Division Two championship rivals Horncastle, the promotion-chasing Stamford Men's B team are already relishing the prospect of challenging their A team clubmates in the first division next season.

With three matches still to play - against Skegness and bottom of the table Louth B at home and away - Roger Graham's side, on 86 points from seven matches, are two clear at the top and with a game in hand over their nearest rivals. Only Spalding, with 62 points from just five matches, can possibly scupper their aspirations.

Hopefully the rampant B team won't regret the unfortunate five shots conceded on the last end which cost John Little's rink a vital two points in a 16-2 overall victory.

Elsewhere Ray Harvey stepped in at the last minute to help Pete Linnell, Ally McNaughton and Trevor Christie to a 32-12 win, while Richard Montgomery's quartet included a seven count on the 6th end in their 33-17 victory.

The rinks of Mark Hebden and Mick Owens also scored heavily - by 39-10 and 43-8 respectively - to wrap up an outstanding overall performance.

Results (Stamford names only):

Lincs Men's Second Division: Stamford B 162 (16 pts) Horncastle 65 (2). R Blake, D Henshaw, D Heffernan, M Hebden won 39-10; P Linnell, A McNaughton, R Harvey, T Christie won 32-12; T Barwell, D Veasey, K Gentry, M Owens won 43-8; R Graham, M Cullingworth, D Middleton, R Montgomery won 33-17; D Howarth, A Lonslow, K Rippin, J Little lost 15-18.

HOME CLASH FOR OVER 60 PAIRS.

It will be an all-Stamford tussle in the Area 5 semi-final of the Over 60 pairs.

After beating club colleagues Neil Crees and Roger Clarke 23-8, Mal Smith and Martyn Dolby will face Bob Warters and Roger Martin, earlier winners against Peter Ridley and Graham Wright from Spalding.

TRIO EDGED OUT IN COUNTY TIE

Cliff Watson, Roger Martin and Peter Edwards suffered a tantalising defeat in the Lincs IBA county triples at Grantham against father and son Terry and Adam Berridge and Josh Meakins.

Leading 14-6 and holding five shots, they conceded an unfortunate break before the home rink picked up six shots and went on to win 18-17 when Edwards just missed the chance to draw a winner.