Revenge is sweet for Men's A over Spalding rivals

Post date: Jan 5, 2016 4:20:22 PM

Stamford bowlers gained revenge for a one shot defeat by Spalding in the prestigious Denny Cup by taking 14 points off their county rivals in a hard fought league match, emerging overall winners by 12 shots.

The margin of victory, only the second over Spalding's team of internationals in recent years, was chiefly down to the quartet of Stephen Harris, Dusty Miller, Jonathan Earl and Martyn Dolby who manipulated the end rink against Under 25 international Ashley Caress to run out 27-7 winners.

Said Dolby: " Our front end of Stephen and Dusty, using a borrowed pair of bowls to cope with the line and pace of the end rink, were exceptional."

Credit, too must go to Peter Edwards' rink who led 18-3 at one stage against Martin Spencer and Keith Rippin, who snatched two vital shot in the last end to win 20-19.

Mike Humphreys' quartet battled hard before finally conceding 15-20, while13 year old Aaron Barnes was the star of Spalding captain Graham Smith's rink in a 22-12 victory against Roger Martin which proved not quite enough on the day.

Said Smith: " We are going through a period of transition at present, blooding some new players like Aaron. But all credit to Stamford who got off to a great start (42-10 after five ends, 62-31 after ten) and we left ourselves just too much to do before we adapted to the faster surface."

Stamford's next match is at Scunthorpe on January 17.

Results (Stamford names only)

Co-op Lincs League Division One. Stamford Men's A 96 (14 pts) Spalding A 84 (4). S Harris, D Miller, J Earl won 27-7; D Hudson, D Travis, D Want, P Edwards won 22-15; A Warrington, P Bailey, J Holroyd, M Humphreys lost 15-21; R Allam, C Watson, D King, K Rippin won 20-19; A Romaine, R Montgomery, B Warters, R Martin lost 12-22.

Stephen Harris has qualified for the final stages of the Lincolnshire 18 and under singles due to be played at Louth on February 21.

He beat Oliver Moore (Boston), Jay Travis-Jenner (Stamford) and Liam Reeson (Boston) at Horncastle on the way to qualifying alongside England Under 25 international Ruby Hill (Spalding).

James Hebden (Stamford), who celebrated his 16th birthday on Monday, also took part. He lost all his matches but gained valuable experience of the singles format.

Stamford's mixed team endeavour to maintain their title chase at the top of the second Division of the county league when they visit Lincoln B on Saturday (1.30pm).

Team: D Hudson, C Warters, S Moir; C Barnes,S Suffling, T Mackie, M Dolby; S Harris, MBloxham, J Robinson, A Barnes; J Brennan, M Holroyd, J Little, J Holroyd; D Mackie, D Ford, C Ford, M Humphreys. Meet at club 11.30.

Meanwhile, a Stamford team entertains Melton Mowbray in a friendly (2.10pm) and on Sunday afternoon (from 4.15pm) the first rounds of the men's club pairs take place.

Richard Allam, Stephen Harris and Bob Warters, have reached the Lincs Men's singles qualifier to be played at Louth on February 14. Among those who have qualified for Horncastle to be played simultaneously are Ray Keating, Chris Ballard, George Cameron, Wayne Morris and David Heffernan.

Keith Rippin, Keating, Warters, Alan Romaine and Derek King have so far qualified for the Lincs County over 65 singles to be played at Lincoln on February 20. One place is still undecided. County finals are due for Boston IBC on April 16

Jonathan Earl, John Holroyd, Bob Warters and Stephen Harris represent Northants Federation on Sunday at Lincoln against Lincolnshire in the Derbyshire Trophy inter-county competition at the start of a busy few days for Stamford bowlers in national competitions.

On Thursday (Jan 14) Warters, Tony Scarr and Roger Martin return to Lincoln to play Danny Brown's trio in the area final of the EIBA Over 50 Triples and on Saturday afternoon (Jan 16) Warters and Martin host Spalding's John Needham and his partner in the area semi-final of the Over 60 pairs.

Derek King is also due to play clubmate Martyn Dolby in the area semi-final of the Over 60 singles and the pair will be in the Stamford A side which plays Lincoln at home and away simultaneously in the Over 60s Double rink on Monday, January 18 (10am).