Nail-biter in the Denny Plate...Melton eclipsed by four shots

Post date: Dec 1, 2014 6:08:42 PM

Competing for the third successive weekend, Stamford bowlers have reached the last 32 of the Denny Plate competition, earning a contest on Saturday, December 13 (10am) with Rugby Thornfield IBC after a nail-biting defeat of Melton IBC.

With two rinks of four players at home, two rinks at Melton and aggregate scores counting, the phone lines were red hot between the venues with first Stamford, then Melton taking the lead as the match reached its tense conclusion.

Martyn Dolby's rink, featuring teenager Stephen Harris, veteran Barrie Plowman and Blackstones club-mate Jonathan Earl, finally settled it on the 20th end of their home leg match. With Dolby outstanding throughout, converting heads or drawing close to maintain Stamford's advantage on numerous occasions, the rink eventually claimed a game-changing six shots on the penultimate end. This left Melton skip John Robinson needing four on the last end to take the tie. It proved beyond reach and Stamford won overall 88-84.

Credit also to Peter Edwards' rink who forced a draw and to Keith Rippin's quartet at Melton who fought back from 7-15 to take the lead only to slide at the death to 18-22. The match proved that every shot is vital and although Roger Martin's quartet were outclassed on the day by England international Les Gillitt's rink, the 12 shots they did gain contributed to the overall result.

Stamford, however were bundled out of the Egham Trophy inter-club mixed competition on Sunday by Spalding, who included a fistful of current and former international male and female players in their line-up, running out comprehensive winners 128-56.

The only bright spot was the gritty performance of one of the home Stamford rinks - Flick Rogers, Carol Warters, Bob Warters and Roger Martin - who took England regular Graham Smith's quartet to the wire.

Smith showed his class in the closing stages with immaculate drawing to pinch it 24-21, having trailed 15-21 with three ends to play and with the overall result already in Spalding's pocket.

Stamford bowlers are experiencing mixed fortunes in national individual competitions, with Peter Banks setting up an Over 60s singles clash with club colleague Derek King after a 21-15 defeat of Bruce Acock. King accounted for Tony Barwell 21-12 but Mike Ramsden went out to Boston's John Maury 21-15.

The club's last hopes of emulating last year's performance by Alan Romaine, Peter Cox and Keith Rippin in reaching the inter-area finals of the Over 50 Triples, dispersed with the defeat of Roger Martin's trio at Boston.

John Holroyd, Ray Keating and Martin were unable to contain the drawing skills of Adrian Field and finally succumbed 21-15.

After a promising start to their season, Stamford's Over 60s came to grief at Sleaford, who inflicted a 124-54 defeat gaining maximum 18 points. Stamford trail Sleaford by six points after five matches but have a game in hand.

Defending his Lincolnshire County Over 65 singles title, Bob Warters stumbled at the second hurdle, defeated by club-mate Scot George Cameron 21-15 in the local qualifiers.

Twenty-two players submitted entries for the various competitions - higher than any other of the 12 indoor clubs in the county, ensuring plenty of representation in the county quarter-finals in the New Year.

Results (Stamford names only)

Denny Plate: Stamford 88, Melton 84: Home - S Harris, B Plowman, J Earl, M Dolby won 34-6; W Morris, J Holroyd, A Warrington , P Edwards drew 24-24. Away - R Allam, D King, C Watson, K Rippin lost 18-22; A Romaine, R Keating, B Warters, Roger Martin lost 12-32.

Egham Trophy: Stamford 56, Spalding 128. Home - F Rogers, C Warters, B Warters, Roger Martin lost 21-24; J Foster, M Andrews, S Harris, C Watson lost 12-32. Away - B Plowman, G Edwards, P Plowman, P Edwards lost 3-43; S Suffling, C Ford, R Montgomery, K Rippin lost 20-29.

Lincs Overs 60s League: Division Two. Sleaford 124 (18pts), Stamford 54 (0). D Howarth, D Ingham, T Weaver, Richard Martin lost 15-20; A Lonslow, R Graham, P Banks, A Horton lost 5-28; W Kettle, M Owens, M Wallis, R Harvey lost 8-35; A Chapman, D Veasey, D Heffernan, D Henshaw lost 11-24; T Barwell, T Mackie, A Romaine, J Geary lost 15-17.