Men's A beat champions to end season in style

Post date: Apr 8, 2018 10:21:30 AM

GAINING consolation for just missing out on retaining the title, Stamford Men's A completed their fixtures with a 97-87 defeat of new champions Lincoln, collecting all but two of the 18 points available.

Despite a handful of their players preferring to make the trek to Wembley stadium to watch Lincoln City's Checkatrade Football League Cup victory over Shrewsbury, Lincoln fielded a strong side determined to maintain their two-year unbeaten record.

But Stamford, sponsored by the Clarity Partnership, were in no mood to give up their title without a fight and although it was already out of reach, turned in a dominant display winning on four of the five rinks.

Individual honours went to Richard Allam, Trevor Harris, Adam Warrington and skip Paul Bailey, who is set to take over the captaincy from Bob Warters next season. They never let the rink skipped by an off-colour Tony Gilroy settle, taking a 17-3 lead before finally adding 11 shots in five ends to run out 28-14 winners.

Elsewhere Jon Earl's rink finished strongly to overcome George Draper 20-15, Keith Rippin drew a final shot to beat Dean Stevenson 15-13 and Neil Wright's quartet had so much in hand they could afford to concede a maximum eight shots on the last end and still beat Lincoln captain Richard Ashton by three!

Stamford finished the season with 90 points from eight games - just four points behind Lincoln, who still have Spalding to play.

FOOTNOTE: Stamford Men's B completed their season by picking four points at champions Grantham in the second division of the Lincs League. They were beaten 114-73.

Results (Stamford names only):

Lincolnshire League Men's Division One: Stamford A 97 (16 pts) Lincoln 87 (2). W Aspinall, D Miller, A Barnes, Roger Martin lost 13-27; S Harris, J Holroyd, R Montgomery, J Earl won 20-15; A Romaine, M Cullingworth, C Watson, N Wright won 21-18; B Warters, Mal Smith, D Want, K Rippin won 15-13; R Allam, T Harris, A Warrington, P Bailey won 28-14.

RELEGATION THREAT TO MIXED TEAM

Stamford's mixed team will travel to Louth on April 21 knowing exactly what task faces them if they are to avoid relegation from Division One where they are defending champions.

While Horncastle, against whom they lost by just four shots in a thrilling battle, look assured of the title, while any one of the remaining five league members could finish second or be relegated such is the clamour over the remaining fixtures.

Against Horncastle on their own surface, Stamford quickly knew they were in a titanic fight and throughout, the advantage see-sawed until with just five minutes left, the scores were level across the total scoreboard.

However, while Stephen Harris's rink which had been under the cosh, picked up a late five count, the rinks skipped by Bob Warters and Derek King dropped shots under the pressure, enabling the visitors to win 100-96 and collect 12 of the 18 points available.

Results ( Stamford names only)

Lincs Mixed League Division One: Stamford 96 (6) Horncastle 100 (12). Mick Smith, P Jones, H Holroyd, Mal Smith won 22-16; J Lonslow, D Miller, S Moir, R Montgomery won 21-16; D Mackie, T Mackie, C Ford, S Harris lost 13-27; J Brennan, C Warters, J Little, B Warters won 21-17; M King, A Lonslow, S Suffling, D King lost 19-24.