Setback as Men's A lose at Louth by 14 shots

Post date: Feb 5, 2017 10:58:01 PM

Hopes of Stamford's men's A team capturing the Lincs First Division title suffered a setback when they were beaten by 14 shots at Louth, while picking up only three of the 18 points available.

However if further results go their way it should be enough to keep them safe from relegation from the five-team division in which two will go down.

Confidence was high before the match but Louth quickly settled better on their familiar surface and held a slender lead at 10 ends and went on to turn the screw with significant counts at key points

Cliff Watson's quartet were always up against it against home club manager Simon Reeson but staging a fightback but Paul Bailey's rink looked to be in control at 18-10 before conceding a nasty seven on the 16th end - a body blow which finally saw them go down by two shots.

Elsewhere, Roger Martin's four picked up 11 shots in five ends to eventually run out worthy winners by six, while Martyn Dolby's quartet were frustrated by a drawn shot from the opposition skip with his last bowl with a match lie against him.

Peter Edwards' rink, with 18-year old Jay Travis-Jenner performing well at No.3, salvaged what may prove a vital point in Stamford's campaign by scoring 12 shots in the last six ends to force a draw.

Stamford's next match is home to old rivals Spalding on February 25 with a 1pm start.

Results (Stamford names only):

Lincs men's League Division One: Louth A 112 (15 pts) Stamford A 98 (3). M Cullingworth, M Ramsden, R Montgomery, C Watson lost 17-33; J Holroyd, A Barnes, A Warrington, Roger Martin won 23-17; R Allam, D Miller, D King, P Bailey lost 20-22; D Hudson, Mal Smith, J Travis-Jenner, P Edwards drew 22-22; B Warters, M Humphreys, J Earl, M Dolby lost 16-18.

England international and current National singles champion Martin Spencer from the Spalding club won't face a tougher opponent than Stamford's 19-year-old bowling prodigy Stephen Harris in defence of his title.

At every stage of their clash in the Area 5 semi-final on Spencer's home carpet, Harris stuck close to his opponent sharing 20 shots, then 30 before Spencer finally shook him off at 16-16.

Spencer scored the vital match-winning shots in the style of his Manchester United hero Zlatan Ibrahimovic to win 21-16 with a sigh of relief.