Margaret's mixed team could have title in their grasp

Post date: Mar 12, 2017 8:48:40 PM

With just two matches remaining, Stamford IBC's mixed team are on the threshold of an historic first division championship in the Lincs Co-op-sponsored League.

They took 14 points from the visit to Skegness in a 99-74 shots victory which takes them to the 113 points mark -already out of reach of nearest rivals Spalding, leaving only Louth A mathematically capable of catching them.

With Louth picking up only two points at Lincoln, Stamford now only need a further four from the visit to Lincoln on March 25 to clinched the title for the first time in the club's history, with a match to spare. Stamford play Louth at home on April 1.

Margaret Bloxham's Stamford team rarely looked likely to concede the overall spoils against Skegness and at one stage led on all five rinks but finally had to accept just three winning rinks, more than enough to maintain their title challenge.

Christine Barnes, Tony Mackie, Shirley Suffling and Martyn Dolby took the rink honours 30-12, despite conceding four shots over the last three ends while rinks skipped by Mick Humphreys and Cliff Watson won by 13 and six shots respectively.

Results (Stamford names only):

Lincs Co-op Lincs Mixed League Division One: Skegness 74 (4pts) Stamford 99 (14). C Barnes, T Mackie, S Suffling, M Dolby won 30-12; J Robinson, M Bloxham, A Barnes, C Watson won 20-14; M Andrews, Mal Smith, C Ford, M Humphreys won 24-11; K Bailey, D Mackie, D King, P Bailey lost 12-19; J Brennan, C Warters, J Little, B Warters lost 13-18.

Martyn Dolby will contest four titles at the Northants Federation finals which take place on his home green at Stamford on Sunday from 10am.

Having already reached the pairs final with Adam Warrington he will play against his partner in the four-bowl singles following a 21-10 defeat of 19-year-old Stephen Harris. He also beat Mick Linnell 21-8 to reach the Veterans Singles against clubmate Bob Warters and last night, with Warrington and Christine Ford earned a place in the mixed triples climax, accounting for Jeff Pitt's trio.

They will play Bob and Carol Warters and Roger Martin.

Along with Warrington (singles, pairs and mixed triples), Shirley Suffling has also made three finals - two singles and the mixed pairs with Derek King against Peterborough's Joe Martin and Carol Hunter.

Players and spectators are invited to bring a raffle prize towards Federation funds.

10am: Women's 4-bowl singles - S Suffling v C Ford (rink 2); men's 4-bowl singles - A Warrington v M Dolby (4).

12 noon: under 25 2-bowl singles - J Randall v S Harris (2); men's Senior 4-bowl singles - B Warters v M Dolby (5); 12.30pm : J Robinson v S Suffling (6).

2.30pm: men's 2-bowl pairs - N Wilkie & J Randall v A Warrington & M Dolby (3); men's triples - M Humphreys, J Holroyd & K Vinter v S Harris, C Watson & P Edwards (4).

3.30pm: Women's 2-bowl pairs - J Want & D Mackie v H Holroyd & L Harris (1); mixed 2-bowl pairs - S Suffling & D King v J Martin & C Hunter (5).

4.30pm: mixed triples - C Warters, B Warters & RF Martin v A Warrington, C Ford & M Dolby (2).