Six points at Spalding is 'progress' for A team

Post date: Nov 25, 2017 8:21:07 PM

DESPITE his team suffering their first defeat of the season in defence of the Lincs League Division One title, Stamford A captain Bob Warters was still happy with the team's three winning rinks at Spalding and the six points it delivered

"To my knowledge we have never in the club's history won as a team on this surface, indeed we lost on all rinks last season - so six points is definitely progress in our chase to retain the title, " said Warters after a 95-92 defeat.

Stamford got off to a flying start to lead narrowly after five and ten ends before Spalding, with some aggressive play from their younger players, got back on terms and held a 10-shot advantage with only a handful of ends to play.

A late rally, however, by the rinks of Martyn Dolby, Paul Bailey - for whom Wayne Aspinall was outstanding - and Peter Edwards, grabbed vital shots to close the gap but it proved just too little too late.

The match proved a tough baptism in the county league for James Harford, whose rink were unable to hold on to an early 8-1 advantage and against lead Paul Cherry and skip Graham Wright in scintillating form, conceded 17 shots in the last eight ends.

Top rink prize went to the experienced quartet of Alan Romaine, Alan Barnes, John Holroyd and Warters who claimed 13 shots without reply early on before adding three four counts and a five to run out 34-12 winners.

Result (Stamford names only):

Lincs League Division One: Spalding 95 (12 pts) Stamford A 92 (6). s Harris, M Humphreys, J Earl, M Dolby won 17-13; A Romaine, A Barnes, J Holroyd, B Warters won 34-12; R Allam, W Aspinall, A Warrington, P Bailey won 17-14; D Hudson, C Watson, D Want, P Edwards lost 12-24; P Dalliday, M Ramsden, N Wright, J Harford lost 32-12.

While the A team were coming to terms with the Spalding carpet, Stamford B had little trouble mastering their own surface with Horncastle taking the brunt and leaving empty handed from the 18 points at stake.

The 117-49 scoreline reflected Stamford's late dominance though they will be wary of the return fixture in February on a slower surface on which the locals are particularly adept.

The teams were evenly matched in the early stages, indeed after 12 ends the Stamford rinks skipped by Mick Owens and Pete Linnell trailed and Richard Martin led by one.

However, the realisation of the long journey home must have served as a distraction to the visitors who fell away. Owens picked up 16 shots in the last eight ends, Linnell eight in five and Martin claimed the rink honours with 14 in six ends, winning 29-13.

Result (Stamford names only:

Lincs Men's League Division Two: Stamford B 117 (18 pts) Horncastle 67. D Howarth, D Veasey, P Banks, Richard Martin won 29-13; K Rawlins, D Edwards, T Mackie, D King won 18-9; T Barwell, K Rippin, M Hebden, T Christie won 24-9; C Ballard, R Graham, D Heffernan, M Owens won 27-19; D Middleton, J Hebden, M Hewitt, P Linnell won 19-17.

During the recent, Singles Circuit tournament at Stamford, organiser Mike Ramsden ran a pop quiz for charity. He wishes to advise that it was won by Empingham bowlers

Rosemary Smith, Malcolm Mann & David Laughton.

The £62 raised was split between Breast Cancer Care and the Inner Wheel of Rutland.

Lincolnshire Air Ambulance benefitted from a 'name the player' quiz.