Mixed make it a winning start back in Division Two

Post date: Oct 12, 2015 3:51:25 PM

After a disappointing season in which they were relegated from the First Division of the Lincs County League on 'shots difference', Stamford Indoor Bowls Club's mixed team have bounced back in style.

Entertaining a rejuvenated Dunholme team, they emerged confident and comfortable winners by a 64-shot margin, never allowing the East Lincs outfit to settle and learn the intricacies of the home surface.

Stamford's five rinks, accumulated a 15-shot lead after the first end and continued to pile on the pressure for the next 20 ends to send a signal to the rest of their rivals that they will not settle for Second Division status after completing this 25th anniversary campaign.

Leading the 126-62 rout which helped earn 16 of the 18 points available, was the rink of Denise and Tony Mackie, Martyn Dolby and Shirley Suffling making an impressive debut at lead. Their 38-12 win clearly reflected their control of the occasionally tricky end rink.

There were also wins from the rinks skipped by John Little, Bob Warters and Cliff Watson.

After a week's break, captain Margaret Bloxham's team now faces a tough run of five matches in six weeks, four of them away from home, which will certainly test their mettle if they are to make a swift return to the top flight.

Result (Stamford names only):

Lincs Mixed League Division Two: Stamford 126 (16 pts) Dunholme 62(2). S Suffling, D Mackie, T Mackie, M Dolby won 38-12; D Hudson, C Warters, S Moir, B Warters won 26-13; M Andrews, V Du'Kett, J Travis-Jenner, M Humphreys lost 15-17; J Robinson, M Bloxham, A Barnes, C Watson won 21-12; J Brennan, L Harris, B Acock, J Little won 26-8.

Despite winning the Third Division of the Lincs men's county league last season, newly promoted Stamford B suffered a baptism of fire at Sleaford when they turned up for their opening fixture of the season.

Sleaford were in no mood to show mercy to the newcomers and ran out comfortable winners by 93 shots, claiming all 18 of the points up for grabs.

15-year-old James Hebden was one of the few who emerged with credit from a performance in which the team suffered from key players being unavailable on a surface much slower than their home carpet.

Result

Lincs Men's Division Two: Sleaford 147 (18) Stamford 54 (0). D Howarth, A Lonslow, D Heffernan, C Ballard lost 13-21; K Rawlins, N Graham, C Jones, J Geary lost 6-33; A Chapman, M Hebden, D Ford, D Henshaw lost 8-36; P Pheasant, W Kettle, B Acock, A Barnes lost 12-28; T Barwell, J Hebden, T Mackie, P Banks lost 15-29.

In the early rounds of National competitions, John and Moira Holroyd held leads of 9-0 and 15-8 in the Mixed Pairs but we're finally overhauled by Boston youngsters Charlotte Spencer and Jonathan West 16-19.

West was fresh from a £500 windfall in the Lincoln IBC singles where, after beating former world champion Billy Jackson in the semi-final, he lost to international Les Gillett (Melton) in a tie break.

In the Over 50 triples, Bob Warters, Tony Scarr and Roger Martin finally took a tight game against Alan Romaine, Doug Want and Keith Rippin 17-10 and now face Steve Hill's trio from Spalding.

Stamford IBC celebrates its annual presentation evening on Saturday (7pm) when domestic league and club competition awards will be handed out respectively by current president's Dennis and Stella Henshaw and their successors for the 25th anniversary year, Bob and Carol Warters.

Winners and runners-up in domestic leagues are reminded their team needs to be represented by at least one player to receive their vouchers.

Stamford IBC has cancelled a proposed match against a Lincs Vice Presidents team due to be played on Sunday. Fixture congestion during a busy period of county and frindly matches is understood to be the reason.

Three teams from Stamford have been entered for the national Over 60s double rink competition, with Stamford A due to take on the current national champions from Boston at home and away on November 2.

Stamford B play Lincoln at both venues on October 26 while Stamford C play Sleaford at home and away simultaneously on November 16.

Stamford A: home (10am) - A Romaine, D Hudson, P Edwards, M Dolby; away (12 noon) - M Cullingworth, D King, B Warters, Roger Martin.

Stamford B : home (10am) - B Acock, M deCamp, D Henshaw, A Horton ; away (10) - D Veasey, D Heffernan, J Geary, P Banks.

Stamford C: home (10am) - M Ramsden, S Travis, D Want, K Rippin; away (10) - T Barwell, R Keating, R Montgomery, C Watson.