Senior double rink cruise into EIBA last 16

Post date: Jan 18, 2016 5:51:15 PM

Senior bowlers at Stamford have qualified to meet Nottingham in the 6th round of the national indoor Over 60s double rink competition after a sensational win over two-time title winners, Lincoln IBC.

Stamford A - one of three eight-man teams entered by the club, such is our strength in depth - have already knocked out the defending champions from Boston in the first round but were feeling a little apprehensive, especially on the notorious, faster Lincoln surface.

However, recent experiences - captain Bob Warters, for example, was making his fourth visit in eight days - gave them more confidence and they were able to find their best form when it mattered, both at home and away, with the two 21-end fours matches played simultaneously.

After five ends, Stamford led 13-10 accumulatively thanks chiefly to a successive three and six by Martyn Dolby's home rink and never relinquished the lead from then on.

By 10 ends they led 16-5 against George Draper's vastly experienced quartet, while at Lincoln Roger Martin's four were confidently holding Senior international Mike Smith's rink 8-9.

The turning point in the match came appropriately on the 13th end, when Martin turned Lincoln's solitary bowl out of the head for a seven count to take a stranglehold on their match at 17-10, from which the home side never recovered.

Eventually, with Dolby already having completed a 25-7 rout, the former champions conceded.

Said team captain and Stamford president Bob Warters: "We are thrilled by this result. Everyone played their part and played to their potential as a unit, encouraging each other and finding the key shots when it mattered both at home and away."

Winners of the next tie - one rink at Stamford, the other at Nottingham Bowls Centre - will play north-east giants - either Stanley or Hartlepool - in the quarter finals.

Result (Stamford names first):

EIBA over 60s Double Rink. Stamford 46 Lincoln 21. Home - Alan Romaine, Dave Hudson, Peter Edwards, Martyn Dolby bt M Andrews, B Jackman, D Nicholson, G Draper 25-7; away - Bob Warters, Malcolm Cullingworth, Derek King, Roger Martin bt R Horne, P Morris, J Withers, M Smith 21-14.

Following the Derbyshire Trophy defeat by Lincolnshire, Northants Federation indoor captain James Harford has re-shuffled his team for the visit of North Cambs to Peterborough IBC on Sunday.

The only winners at Lincoln - Brian Martin, Bob Warters and Tris Morton - have been retained for the four-rink two-bowl triples format and drafted in are Howard Shipp, Tony Scarr and Joe Randall, recovered from an appendicitis operation.

Northants need maximum points to take into their final match against Norfolk at Acle in March if they are to stand any chance of qualifying for the national final at Newark in April.

Northants team (10am start) H Shipp, J Harford, S Law; B Martin, B Warters, T Morton; S Harris, J Earl, T Scarr; J Holroyd, N Wilkie, J Randall.