Mixed misery at Spalding

Post date: Nov 12, 2017 9:00:46 PM

AFTER three heavy defeats, hopes of Stamford Mixed team retaining their Lincs League Division One title may look remote. But with three home games on the bounce they have the chance to retrieve their predicament before the end of February.

In their latest fixture at Spalding, the team were hoping to reverse their recent fortunes on a surface with which they were familiar but had brought little joy in the past.

However, it was soon clear that the home side, despite defeat at Louth in their previous fixture, were in no mood to concede points, indeed Cliff Watson's rink were soon 19 adrift after six ends.

Elsewhere the rinks of Mick Humphreys and Roger Martin were never able to get their noses in front, while Paul Bailey was unable to hang on to a 16-14 lead with two ends to play.

It was left to Helen Holroyd, her mother Moira, John Little and Bob Warters to salvage some points but with the rink scores level and the shot against him, home skip Mick Hartop drew a winning shot.

Results ( Stamford names only):

Lincs Mixed Leagie Division One: Spalding 109 (18 pts) Stamford 82 (0). j Robinson, C Warters, D King, C Watson lost 11-31; L Harris,D Mackie, Mal Smith, P Bailey lost 16-19; K Rippin, S Moir, S Suffling, Roger Martin lost 19-25; H Holroyd, M Holroyd, J Little, B Warters lost 15-16; J Brennan, T Mackie, C Ford, M Humphreys lost 17-21.

Stamford Over 60s League team returned almost empty-handed from their near 200-mile round trip to Scunthorpe, claiming just two points from a 38-shot defeat. This after the coach taking them had an eventful start to their journey at the club's car park!

Only the rink of David Howarth, Terry Weaver, Alec March and Richard Martin profited from the trip with a 20-11 defeat of Phil Boulton's quartet.

Results (Stamford names only):

Lincs Over 60s Leagie Division One: Scunthorpe 111 (16) Stamford 73 (2). a Lonslow, H Neath, D Bruce, R Graham lost 14-32; D Howarth, T Weaver, A March, Richard Martin won 20-11; R Blake, T Freeman, C Jones, D Heffernan lost 10-23; T Barwell, J Corby, T Christie, M Owens lost 14-23; M Dye, T Mackie, D Veasey, Mal Smith lost 15-22.

A handful of Stamford bowlers completed a marathon of about 300 miles on Saturday, when after playing at Scunthorpe the previous day, they headed for Skegness in a county men's league Division Two clash.

Sadly the result was the same - claiming only two points from a possible 18 in a 64-118 defeat.

The rink of Trevor Harris, Chris Ballard, David Heffernan and Mick Owens we're the only winners, claiming a two shot victory.

Result (Stamford names only) :

Lincs Men's League Division Two: Skegness 108 (16 pts) Stamford 64 (2). T Barwella, D Bruce, M Hebden, T Christie lost 16-20; D Howarth, D Veasey, Richard Martin, P Banks lost 8-23; T Harris, C Ballard, D Heffernan, M Owens won 15-13; D Middleton, J Hebden, M Hewitt, P Linnell lost 13-20; R Graham, T Mackie, D Edwards, D King lost 10-32.

For Martyn Dolby his fortunes over the weekend both plumbed the depths and reached new peaks.

The Stamford club champion was hoping to progress in the national champion of champions event but came up against former World No.11 Matt Orrey, whose past scalps include multi world champion Scot Paul Foster.

Orrey, representing Grantham, was in sparkling form and in Dolby's own words delivered a 'bowling masterclass' on his home surface, racing into a 14-0 lead before Dolby temporarily battled back only to concede the match at 5-21.

However, paired with Stephen Harris the former policeman retrieved some pride with a 21-6 defeat of Spalding's Graham Smith and Ashley Caress in the national pairs.

After picking up a five count early on, the turning point came on the 11th end. Three shots down, Dolby trailed the jack for three then drew two more shots to put them 18-5 ahead. After conceding three on the 14th end the Spalding pair conceded.

Said Dolby: "This was a classic example of perfect teamwork with both Stephen and I playing at the top of our game at the same time”.

The pair will meet fellow Stamford club members Mark Hebden and his son James, who beat James Harford and Simon Law 15-9.

In the national two-bowl singles competition Chris Ballard beat clubmate Adam Warrington 21-11.