Only a Win will do for Title Chasers

ONLY A WIN WILL DO FOR TITLE CHASERS

Stamford bowlers must take advantage of a lifeline thrown to them by their nearest rivals if they are to retain the Lincs Men’s League southern section title on Saturday.

Following their recent defeat by Spalding, Stamford Men’s ‘A’ team were hanging on to the faint hope that the league leaders would slip up in their final game at Boston ‘A’ last weekend.

And so it proved, with Boston taking 12 of the 14 points at stake in a 94-74 shot win. 

It leaves Stamford ‘A’ with a stark challenge. They simply need to beat bottom of the table Boston ‘B’ overall and take the eight points needed to tie the leaders on 93  - and win the league by virtue of a superior shots aggregate. 

But despite a few changes, they would prefer to win it in style and additional rink points would be a bonus. 

Said stand-in captain Bob Warters, deputising for Tony Barwell who is recovering from heart surgery: “Spalding are eight points ahead of us and knew what they had to do at Boston - take nine of the 14 points available - to put the title beyond our reach. 

“In the end, we owe the Boston lads, our admiration. They restricted Spalding to just two points in a 20-shot win. But we still have a job to do against the Boston second string - it’s a must win for us.”

Stamford ‘A’, will be without, two of their most consistent regulars, with Wayne Aspinall supporting his son Owen (15) who is playing for Lincolnshire Under 25s at Nottingham in the final of the inter-counties double rink.

However, among those who have been drafted in is Jim Pryor from the Langtoft club, who has anlso impressed in singles and pairs competitions this season, to make his indoor first team debut.

Simultaneously Stamford ‘B’, who have enjoyed a much improved season, will travel to play Grantham.

Teams: Stamford ‘A’ home to Boston ‘B’ on Saturday: K Rawlins, B Crouch, B Warters, M Linnell; M Ramsden, C Ballard, J Pryor, J Earl; M Humphreys, D Heffernan, N Wright, A Warrington; P Shaw, K Rippin, A McNaughton, R Martin.

Stamford ‘B’, away to Grantham on Saturday: J Suffling, B Orme, D Bruce, D Henshaw; P Linnell, M Owens, D Edwards, H Gordon; S Christie , G Clarke, C Jones, N Crees; G Patrickson, J Hare, M Hewitt, D Wilkinson.

Lincs Mixed League (South). Grantham 57 (0) Stamford 84 (14). Stamford names only. L Cave, R March, A March, D Cave won 26-17; M Christie, J Suffling, S Suffling, B Crouch won 24-12; M Ramsden, V Du’Kett, S Christie, S Moir won 16-14; R Roberts, J Lonslow, J Hare, H Gordon won 18-14.

In the Trudy Bates Lincs Women’s League, Stamford completed a gruelling end of the season fixture list with two games in 24 hours at home to Boston, then away to Skegness.

So all credit to those who made themselves available for both games, following a transport hiccup which cancelled their visit to Skegness earlier in the season and which demanded the game be re-arranged.

Sadly they only managed four points from a possible 28 following a single shot defeat at Boston and a 100-52 loss at the seaside.

Lincs Women’s Trudy Bates League (South): Stamford 64 (2) Boston 65 (12). Stamford names first. A Northen, L Tuck, S Suffling, S Henshaw lost 12-15; E Wallace, P Birch, R March, S Moir lost 13-19; R Roberts, J Lonslow, P Jones, D Mackie lost 13-24; M Christie, R Downs, M Holroyd, C Ford won 26-7.

Stamford’s seniors complete their fixtures on Thursday with a visit to Lincs League (South) champions Lincoln. Transport leaves the club at 8.30 am for 10.30 start.

Team: P Linnell, B Orme, C Jones, D Bruce; J Bourne, G  Patrickson, M Owens, B Warters; P Shaw, I Hall, A March, P Smith; DKing, S Miner, P Burt, M Hewitt

Seniors slump at Lincoln

In a disappointing finish to their season, Stamford seniors were heavily defeated at Lincoln ‘A’ by more than 60 shots.

The only bright spot in an otherwise forgettable fixture was the form of Peter Smith’s rink in which all four - including Paul Shaw, Ian Hall and late stand-in Alec March  - were outstanding in a 22-8 victory against Steve Derby.

While other rinks struggled on the blue, faster-paced carpet, Smith’s rink adapted superbly and raced into a 13-3 lead, eventually adding a four-count on the penultimate end to win by 14 shots.

Elsewhere Bob Warters’ four conceded two ‘fives’, a four and two three-counts in the in the first seven ends as they struggled to come to terms with the green. Martin Hewitt’s rink never recovered from 11 shots conceded in successive ends, while the Don Bruce quartet were rarely in tune with the slick surface but battled gamely from 1-15 behind and eventually reached double figures in what was for all the visitors, a valuable experience.

Lincs Over 60s League (South): Lincoln ‘A’ 110 (12 pts) Stamford 48 (2). Stamford names only. j Bourne, G Patrickson, M Owens, B Warters lost 9-38; P Shaw, I Hall, A March, P Smith won 22-8; D King, S Miner, P Burt, M Hewitt lost 7-37; P Linnell, B Orme, C Jones, D Bruce lost 10-27.