Setback for Mixed team at Lincoln

Post date: Dec 16, 2013 12:42:31 PM

Stamford Indoor Bowls Club's mixed team suffered a setback in their bid to regain promotion to the county top flight when they lost by eight shots at Lincoln and claimed just three points from a possible 18.

Against Lincoln B it was a close tussle throughout with the scores almost level in the closing stages. But despite a late flourish by Martyn Dolby's rink and and a hard-earned draw for John Little they weren't quite able to plug the gap overall on the slick city surface and went down 98-90.

A junior fixture was played alongside the main event with Stamford's Nathan Rigby, Jay Travis-Jenner and Louise and Stephen Harris fighting back from an early 0-8 deficit to lose 10-15.

Bob Warters and Martyn Dolby have earned an Area semi-final place at home to Boston's Paul Flatters and Les Feary in the English National Over 60s pairs after defeating of clubmates Dave Hudson and Derek King.

Turning point came when they led 9-5 then added a crucial six count and finally ran out winners 23-8 after a series of singles without reply.

The pair were due to play alongside Mike Ramsden and Peter Edwards in the Area semi-final of the Over 60s fours at home to Boston this week and today (Friday) Stamford A face Scunthorpe in the home and away legs of the English Over 60s double rink (10am) for a place against either Lincoln (the holders) or Sleaford.

Home: D Hudson, D King, R Warters M Dolby; Away - A Romaine, M Ramsden, K Rippin, P Edwards.

Ramsden, who lost 21-18 to John Maury of Boston in the Over 60s singles, Warters, Edwards and Dolby will represent Lincolnshire against Yorkshire in the Over 60s Inter-Counties quarter-final at Featherstone on January 30.

In the National Over 50 Triples, Alan Romaine, Peter Cox and Keith Rippin have reached the Area final with an outstanding defeat of three from Grantham, who had earlier toppled three of their Stamford colleagues.

Thanks to gaining five shots in the last two ends, after the allotted 18 ends they were tied on 18-apiece with T Berridge, Nick Orrey and former English singles champion Martin Pullen. Then, dramatically, the Stamford trio managed to earn their place in the final on the extra end, eventually winning 20-18.

Qualifying events for Lincolnshire County Quarter-finals are reaching the final stages with Stamford already guaranteed multiple places in all events such has been the numerical strength of their entries.

Among those through to the last 32 of the singles finals are 16-year-olds Jon Bailey and Stephen Harris. Rippin, Romaine and Warters are among seven qualified for the Veterans singles on February 2 at Sleaford, when Stamford A are also due to take on Scunthorpe in a county league match.

One of the most exciting tussles came in the pairs where Adam Warrington and Keith Rippin needed all their experience and guile to overcome the partnership of up-and-coming Wayne Aspinall and Chris Ballard - Rippin clearing their two counting bowls off the rink to edge home 17-16.

Results (Stamford names only):

Lincs Mixed League Division Two: Lincoln B 98 (15pts), Stamford 90 (3): A Martin, C Warters, R Martin, B Warters lost 15-20; I Jenner, W Kettle, M Bloxham, C Watson lost 17-22; J Brennan, V Du'Kett, D Ford, J Little 20-20; M Andrews, S Moir, T Mackie, M Dolby won 21-16; D Hudson, D Mackie, C Ford, K Rippin lost 17-20.

Lincs Over 60s Division Two: Stamford 106 (15), Dunholme 85 (3): D Howarth, D Ingham, T Weaver, R Martin won 23-19; W Kettle, G Corby, T Freeman, R Harvey lost 14-26; N Kettle, P Pheasant, P Banks, A Horton, drew 17-17; T Barwell, T Mackie, A Romaine, J Geary won 33-6; K Germany, D Veasey, D Heffernan, D Henshaw won 19-15.