Scunthorpe withdraws from county men's league

Post date: Feb 13, 2018 5:01:56 PM

SHOCK news has emerged today that Scunthorpe IBC has withdrawn immediately from the Lincs County Men's League Division One - unable to find a captain after several players pulled out of the scheduled match at Stamford this weekend.

Already propping up the league table following a string of defeats and only one win at home to Spalding, the club already looked doomed to Division Two status and despite late efforts by its committee, it was unable to appoint a captain, prepared to put up with late withdrawals.

Said a frustrated fixture secretary John Hopkinson: " It is a great shame, but the captain had already begged a number of players to play but when four dropped out without warning he said he was 'throwing in the towel' and wasn't prepared to continue."

It also means that Stamford will not now be sending a team to Scunthorpe for the scheduled March 10 return fixture and that the points accrued by teams who have already played Scunthorpe - league leaders Lincoln, Spalding (twice), Boston (twice) and Louth - will most likely be deducted throwing both title and relegation into turmoil.

Scunthorpe hopes to continue fielding teams in the Over 60s men's, mixed and women's county leagues.lp

The next Stamford Men's A fixture is Spalding at home on February 24.

STAMFORD A IN SECOND SPOT

Stamford has leapt into second spot in the Lincs Men's League Division One- without delivering a bowl.

With the withdrawal of Scunthorpe from the league - whom Stamford had been due to play in the first of two matches - the table has been adjusted based on matches played and points achieved against Scunthorpe deducted.

It leaves Stamford, with three remaining home matches, just 18 points behind leaders Lincoln whom they still have to play at home but 11 clear of Louth and 24 clear of Spalding who have two games in hand but who still have to visit Stamford.

Division One table: Lincoln 60 pts (4 played), Stamford 42 (5), Louth 31 (4), Spalding 18 (2), Boston A 11 (3). Stamford's remaining fixtures are: February 24 Spalding (h), March 24 Boston (h), April 8 Lincoln (h).

Defending Northants Federation triples champions Mick Humphreys, John Holroyd and Kevin Vinter have reached the semi-final stage with a 27-17 defeat of Adam Warrington, Jon Earl and Martyn Dolby.

Humphreys is also through to the last four in the two-bowl pairs with Roger Martin. They beat Tony Scarr and Trevor Collins 20-13.

Trailing 9-13 with just three ends to play, Stamford's Bob Warters, Cliff Watson and skip Keith Rippin looked in danger of being turfed out of the EIBA Over 50 triples at the Area 5 semi-final stage against Grantham's Mal Lehier, Terry Berridge and Nick Orrey.

But when they picked up a four count on the 16th end to draw level, the momentum enabled them to pick up two more shots on the next end and they could afford to drop a shot on the last to win 15-14.

They are now hoping to get a favourable neutral green draw against the winners of a match between Leicester and Charnwood.

Adam Warrington has reached the semi-final of the Northants Men's four-bowl singles with a 21-13 defeat of Peterborough's Ray Keating, he will meet the winner of the tie between Joe Martin and Mike Ramsden.