Mixed Fortunes for Stamford Bowlers

It was always going to be an uphill struggle for Stamford bowlers competing against Barwell in the Egham Trophy on Sunday in a competition for men and women with two mixed rinks at home and two away playing simultaneously.

And so it proved against a side which included Bill Hobart - a veteran or nearly 40 England internationals - and three of the rink which reached the final of the English women's fours last month at Nottingham.

Barwell got off to a flying start leading 33-8 on aggregate after five ends and 41-15 at halfway before Stamford staged a fightback. But while Stamford home skips Adam Warrington and John Earl maintained the momentum to close the gap to 15 shots with six ends to play, Barwell's home rinks pressed home their advantage with vital shots as Stamford chased the game.

In the end experience counted and Barwell deserved the chance to face Church Gresley in the next round.

Egham Trophy: Stamford 65 Barwell 87: (Stamford names only): Home - June Brennan, Elizabeth Wallace, John Little, Jon Earl lost 17-18; Tony Barwell, Rose March, Christine Ford, Adam Warrington won 25-11. Away - John Sufffling, Carol Warters, Shirley Suffling, Bob Warters lost 12-31; Moira Holroyd, Pat Jones, Ally McNaughton, Keith Rippin lost 11-27.

Stamford's senior bowlers edged to the top of the Lincs Men's Over 60s League (South) with a 35-shot defeat of Sleaford, claiming all but two of the 14 points at stake.

Dave Heffernan's side have 30 points from their three matches - one better than Boston A who have a game in hand.

Only Kevin Vinter's rink came away empty-handed though they out up a stubborn fightback after trailing 3-17, pegging back 15 shots in nine ends before eventually losing 18-21.

Rink honours went to Tony Barwell, Neil Crees, Dusty Miller and Roger Martin whose aggregate seven shots on the 19th and 20th ends proved crucial.

Scores: Lincs Over 60s League (South): Stamford 96 (12 pts) Sleaford 61 (2). Stamford names only: T Barwell, N Crees, D Miller, R Martin won 28-12; B Crouch, C Jones, P Burt, B Warters won 27-10; R Blake, D Henshaw, Mal Smith,T Christie, 23-18; D Heffernan, K Gentry, K Rippin, K Vinter lost 18-21.