Toughest challenge yet in Denny Plate

Post date: Feb 9, 2015 5:38:18 PM

Stamford bowlers face their toughest challenge yet on Saturday (10am) in a season which has seen them rise to new heights on the national stage, writes Bob Warters.

They meet an Egham Indoor Bowls Club side in the English inter-club Denny Plate quarter-final following victories over Sleaford, Melton, Rugby Thornfield and Harrogate needing to win by overall shots from home and away rinks to reach the semi-final of one of the sport's most prestigious competitions.

And Stamford are under no illusions as to the task ahead when eight players and their supporters set off early for the Surrey club just off the M25. Eight other Stamford players will host two Egham rinks playing simultaneously with the scores exchanged every five ends.

Twice winners of both the Denny Cup and the Denny Plate, the Egham team is likely to feature some vastly experienced including national finalists and county champions.

But contrary to some rumours Steve Tuohy, currently the top-ranked player in the Planet Bowls singles circuit and Ian Jenkins, ranked seventh, will not be involved, having undertaken to devote their playing commitments to the PB circuit.

Egham team manager is George Morton, who reveals: " Our current squad contains 10 players who won the Denny Cup three years in succession and won the Denny Plate in 2013. Two of our squad have won National titles and three have qualified for the National Finals this year with several in inter area finals. Nine are in the Surrey inter county Liberty Trophy squad."

Current Surrey League champions, in previous rounds of the Denny Plate, Egham beat Rushmoor, Camberley, Donyng and Wealden.

Stamford IBC press officer Bob Warters, who will be playing in one of the rinks that make the 200 mile round trip to Surrey, responds: " We know we face our toughest match so far against a club with strong traditions which has won this competition in the past.

"But this season has been one where we have punched above our weight and generated a real team spirit. We are hopeful the match will again attract some fair but excited home support and that we can cause another upset."

The team shows only one change from that which edged past Harrogate in the last round - a tactical switch, moving the experienced Cliff Watson to No.2 on Keith Rippin's rink, with Derek King taking over to offer alternative options at No.3.

Stamford home rinks: Dave Hudson, John Holroyd, Adam Warrington, Peter Edwards; Stephen Harris, Wayne Morris, Jonathan Earl, Martyn Dolby.

Away rinks: Alan Romaine, Ray Keating, Bob Warters, Roger Martin; Richard Allam, Cliff Watson, Derek King, Keith Rippin.

Stamford's hopes of a repeat in again reaching the final of the English Over 60s Fours were dashed when they were beaten by John Mildren's Nottingham rink.

Bob Warters, Peter Edwards, Roger Martin and Martyn Dolby hosted the city team on their favourite rink 5 but soon found themselves in a rearguard battle to hold the visitors, who led 8-1 with some superb drawing shots and further conversions took them well clear before a welcome five count helped put the home side on terms.

However, when the Stamford quartet dropped a five on the 19th end to trail 21-16, it needed a desperation shot from Dolby to save the day. He hit the target but the jack was deflected to leave Nottingham the five shots they needed to put the tie beyond reach.

Warters and Dolby have another chance to reach the national finals when they meet Mildren at a neutral venue in a couple of weeks in the Over 60s pairs.

In the Lincolnshire County Mixed League, Stamford's hopes to retaining their place in the first division were given a boost when they took 16 points from rivals Spalding in a 50-shot victory by 115-65.

There was never a better time to play Spalding, weakened by calls for the top club event at Doncaster and playing one short against Chris and Alan Barnes, Pam Barton and Tony Mackie who capitalised in some style taking the rink honours.

Result ( Stamford names only)

Lincolnshire Mixed League, Division One. Stamford 115 (14pts) Spalding 65 (2) M Ramsden, J Dupree, C Ford, K Rippin won 23-14; J Brennan, M Andrews, D Ford, J Little lost 12-17; J Robinson, M Bloxham, B Acock, C Watson won 30-11; D Hudson, C Warters, S Moir, B Warters won 16-13; C Barnes, P Barton, T Mackie, A Barnes won 34-9.

In a topsy turvy women's county league match, Stamford shared the points and the shots at Sleaford.

Stamford looked to be coasting before Christine Ford's rink dropped 12 shots in the last three ends and Sue Moir conceded five on the penultimate end, as did Flick Rogers. It was left to Rogers to claim two match-saving shots to force a 102-102 scoreline and a share of the 32 points available.

Scores (Stamford names only)

Lincs County Trudy Bates Women's League. Sleaford 102 (8) Stamford 102 (8). M Andrews, M Bloxham, Ro March, S Moir lost 15-30; V Du'Kett, S Henshaw, J Robinson, C Warters won 24-14; J Gamble, J Dupree, A Cullingworth, F Rogers lost 17-18; P Barton, R Roberts, P Birch, G Edwards drew 22-22; J Brennan, M Broadbelt , S Suffling, C Ford won 24-18.

Northants Federation competitions are reaching a climax head of the county finals to be staged Stamford on Sunday, March 15, with Stamford bowlers looking to be well represented on home 'turf'.

Already through to the semi final stage in the triples are Richard Allam, Dave Hudson and Derek King who shortened the jack length to topple clubmates Adam Warrington, Jonathan Earl and Martyn Dolby 18-11.

Dolby, however, gained revenge when beating King 21-13 in the Over 65 singles where Peter Edwards pipped Mike Ramsden 19-18 and John Burrows ousted Albert Horton 21-16.

In the women's pairs two likely finalists are already out, beaten at Peterborough. Joyce Foster and Glenys Edwards lost to Jenny Harvey and Carol Hunter while Moira Holroyd and Christine Ford went out against Doris Flowers and Joan Padley.

Lincolnshire county competitions are not proving fruitful for Stamford's women bowlers though Pam Barton, Sue Moir and Glenys Edwards won though one round of triples against Boston before losing to Lincoln. Chris Ford's triple also went out.

Nine Stamford bowlers helped Lincolnshire to a runaway 148-76 victory over Leicestershire in the Midland Counties Seniors League on their home surface - all finishing on winning rinks.

Mike Ramsden, Malcolm Cullingworth, Alan Romaine and Peter Edwards won 28-11, Alan Barnes, Doug Want and Keith Rippin joined Boston's Geoff Parker in winning 33-11 and Peter Cox and Cliff Watson were part of Maurice Elding's Spalding rink in scoring a 20-15 triumph.

Sadly with one match to play - against Derbyshire at Stamford on February 24 - the holders Lincolnshire are too far behind to catch Yorkshire to claim a fourth successive title.

Five Stamford IBC bowlers will represent Northants Bowling Federation on Sunday (10am) on their home rinks against Norfolk BF in the Derbyshire Trophy hopeful of the chance to win the southern section and reach the National finals at Newark in April.

Stephen Harris re-joins Roger Martin and Martyn Dolby, while John Holroyd and Bob Warters team up with Peterborough's James Harford in the four-rink three-bowl triples format.

Stamford Juniors scored convincing home victory over Spalding A by 31shots to 7, in the Lincs Under 18 League, featuring James Hebden, Nathan Rigby and Louise and Stephen Harris.

Stephen also competed in the Boston Planet Bowls singles event on Saturday, reaching the last 16 before losing in straight sets to Wayne Willgress. The event was won by Kevin Rands (Lincoln) who beat Graham Smith (Spalding) in the final.

LATEST FRIENDLY NEWS

OK, we lost our Friendly away at Spalding, but what does one expect? They always put a good side out whatever sort of match it might be. And this one was, as not a lot of people know, a two legged affair for a silver salver, where it originated from god only knows, and because they won on Sunday by 121 shots to 96, it is still sitting proudly in their trophies cabinet. Will it still be there after the second leg to be played on Sunday the 29 March in our own back yard ? Or will it be back to where it should be, in our trophies cabinet ?

Anyway, the good news is that our team at Spalding included three new players, Nick Carr and Stuart and Vanessa Shackleton who have graduated from the Saturday morning coaching earlier in the season. They all acquited themselves admirably especially Stuart and Vanessa who were skip and lead in our best rink. Proof enough that those who have completed the coaching course are good enough to hold their own in the Friendly matches. Let's hope that the word gets around and encourages the others who completed the course to put their names up for possible selection. We do need more names in order to field the full capacity of twenty four players per match. As the eagle- eyed of you will notice there are five unfamiliar names included in the rink scores. They were loaned to us by Spalding because we were that number short. Hence the cry for more names please. The team sheets are posted on the notice board opposite the bar.

Scores (Stamford names only):

Alan Garrett, Kevin Toner, John Purvis, Martin Wallace won 19-14; Daphne Lowe, Maggie Holden, Trish Stafford, Arthur Lonslow lost 12-23; Vanessa Shackleton, Eileen Purvis, Alan Richardson, Stuart Shackleton won 25-13; Linda Bassett, Nick Carr, Phil Bortz, Elizabeth Wallace lost 12-21; Peter Almond, David Thorpe, Sam Richardson, Tim Stokes lost 8-27; Arthur Chapman, Serena Brunning, Ian Stafford, Kevin Vinter lost 20-23.