Sleaford next for seniors in Double Rink

Post date: Nov 27, 2018 4:38:45 PM

After an explosive start in which they led 21-1 overall after just five of the 18 ends, Stamford A finally overcame local rivals Spalding by 20 shots in their second round National Over 60s Double Rink clash on Tuesday.

Spalding never recovered from trailing Martyn Dolby's rink 0-15 at the five end stage in Stamford while at Spalding, Jeff Newson's quartet led 6-1 against John Needham.

Dolby was pegged back to 17-12 by Maurice Elding after 14 ends but finally crushed their resolve with sevhen shots in the closing stages. For Newson, a 17-3 lead with the match out of Spalding's reach was finally trimmed to 18-9.

Stamford play Sleaford A home and away on Tuesday, December 11 (10am).

Result (Stamford names first):

EIBA Over 60s Double rink: Spalding 22 Stamford 42. Home- D Hudson, M Owens, P Edwards, M Dolby beat D Overton, M Doulton, R Perkins, M Elding 24-13; away - B Warters, T Scarr, Roger Martin, J Newson beat J Laud, B Davis, G Wright, J Needham 18-9.

CLASH OF THE TITANS

County Men's Bowls League champions Lincoln A visit Stamford A on Saturday aiming to seek revenge for the only defeat they suffered last season in their winning campaign.

Hoping to finish the season unbeaten they were turned over by a Stamford side whose chances of defending the title they won the previous season had already evaporated.

The two teams are still the main challengers for 2018-19 championship - Lincoln having won their first three home fixtures to head the table with 50 points, while Stamford are also unbeaten with 44 points from three away fixtures. Eighteen points are at stake on Saturday.

Stamford will have some tried and tested combinations skipped by Martyn Dolby, Roger Martin and captain Paul Bailey and also fresh ones including new members Jeff Newson and skip Trevor Collins paired with Mike Ramsden and Neil Wright.

John Holroyd also hopes to be fit to skip Mick Humphreys alongside Richard Allam and Mick Linnell.

Performances will also give Bailey an insight Into selection for next week's crucial Denny Plate match against Boston.

Stamford A (v Lincoln A 1.10pm): A Romaine, J Travis-Jenner, A Warrington, P Bailey; C Ballard, C Watson, B Warters, Roger Martin; D Hudson, Mal Smith, P Edwards, M Dolby; M Ramsden, N Wright, J Newson, T Collins; R Allam, M Linnell, M Humphreys, J Holroyd. Res K Rippin, M Cullingworth, R Montgomery.

SENIOR WOMEN FIELD TWO TEAMS MASONS TROPHY

Such is their perceived strength in depth and competition for places, that for the first time, Stamford have entered two teams in the EIBA Masons Trophy - double rink competition for women aged 60 plus.

Played home and away simultaneously on Friday, December 7 (10am), Stamford A play March, while Stamford B play local rivals Spalding.

Stamford A ( v March) Home - R Roberts, F Rogers, P Birch, M Bloxham; E Wallace, M King, M Andrews , G Edwards.

Stamford B (v Spalding) : Home - J Brennan, M Broadbelt, S Suffling, C Ford; Away - J Want, S Henshaw, C Warters, D Mackie.

FOOTNOTE: The Stamford women's team to play Church Gresley (home and away simultaneously) in the Yetton Plate on December 8 (11 am) has been announced as: Home - J Want, J Robinson, C Warters, D Mackie; R Roberts, F Rogers, P Birch, M Bloxham; away - J Brennan, P Jones, S Suffling, C Ford; E Wallace, M Holroyd, H Holroyd, G Edwards.

ENGLAND TRIALLISTS

Louise Harris and Helen Holroyd from the Stamford Indoor Club head to Rugby Thornfield on Sunday for the final England Under 25 women's trial to select four rinks to compete in the British Isles International series in Belfast in February.

Louise's brother Stephen - a member at both Stamford and Spalding - will be playing simultaneously in the final England men's under 25 trial on adjoining rinks.

WRIGHT'S MIXED GOOD FORTUNES

The new combination of Neil Wright and Helen Holroyd made an impressive debut in the EIBA mixed pairs competition, defeating Grantham's Margaret and Richard Barratt 20-10.

They are at home to Ruby Hill and Matt Whyers in the next round while Paul and Katie Bailey face Lauren Finbow and Jordan Philpott.

WOMEN'S TEAM TO MEET BOSTON

With an eye on next week's Yetton Plate match with Church Gresley, Stamford women face Boston at home on Wednesday (10.30am) with a team almost unchanged from that which took maximum points from Sleaford in the last Lincs (Trudy Bates) A League match

Stamford (v Boston) : J Want, M Holden, C Warters, D Mackie; R Roberts, J Dye, S Henshaw, P Birch; J Lonslow, M Andrews, P Jones, H Holroyd; F Rogers, S Gentry, E Wallace, G Edwards; M King, A Lea, S Suffling, C Ford.

OVER 60s TO VISIT SKEGNESS

After a run of good results, the prospects of Stamford regaining promotion from the second division of the Lincs Over 60s League will be severely tested when they visit Skegness on December 6 (10.30am).

However, captain David Heffernan has pulled together another experienced side which he hopes will deliver and maintain pressure on promotion rivals Lincoln B who trail league leaders Stamford by eight points but with a game in hand.

Stamford (v Skegness): D Howarth, T Weaver, A March, Richard Martin; A Lonslow, D Miller, D Heffernan, T Christie; T Barwell, J Bourne, T Mackie, M Owens, R Blake, D Veasey, K Rippin, J Little; A Romaine, D Henshaw, D Bruce, K Vinter.

JUNIOR ENTRIES

Stamford Indoor Bowls Club in South Lincolnshire stages its annual Under 18 Junior Open singles tournament on Sunday, March 10 with a prize pot of £150. It aims to attract a maximum of 32 of the best young talent nationwide.

Entry for the competition costs £5 and will be played to a sets format with a guaranteed three matches. Players must be under 18 on the day of the event and forms can be downloaded from the junior section of the Stamford IBC website (www.stamfordindoorbowls.co.uk).

SETBACK TO B TEAM HOPES WITH DEFEAT AT SPALDING

Spalding fielded two of their international stars - Jordan Philpott and Graham Smith - to set up a comprehensive Lincs Men's League Division Two defeat of Stamford B on Sunday.

But while Philpott's rink took an 18-1 lead against Keith Gentry and finally won 25-16, Trevor Christie quartet fought hard against Smith and only lost 22-18, conceding four in the last two ends.

Stamford B have a chance for quick revenge, entertaining Spalding in the reverse fixture on Sunday (2pm).

Results (Stamford names only):

Lincs Men's League Division Two: Spalding 108 (18 pts) Stamford B 73 (0). A Lonslow, D Miller, A McNaughton, D King lost 12-23; R Blake, D Henshaw, D Heffernan, M Owens lost 12-15; P Linnell, T Mackie, M Hebden, T Christie lost 18-22; T Barwell, D Veasey, M Hewitt, K Gentry lost 16-25; D Howarth, R Graham, R Montgomery, A Barnes lost 15-23.

MORTON RETURNS TO FACE HUNTS

Northants Federation A team will play Huntingdonshire away on Sunday (10am) in the next series of Derbyshire Trophy matches while the Northants B team travel to Lincoln and District IBA to take on Lincs.

With the return of Tristan Morton, the A team will be re-shuffled to accommodate the England international.

He will be joined by Bob Warters at lead and Mick Humphreys with Roger Martin playing alongside his namesake Brian Martin in Jeff Newson's rink. Nick Wilkie returns to replace Stephen Harris who is unavailable.

Says team captain James Harford: "I am happy with the continued support from my team and especially how Brian Martin stepped up to the standard we have set after a late start to his indoor season at Peterborough."

Northants A v Huntingdon: P Dalliday, J Harford, S Law;N Wilkie, T Scarr, M Dolby;B Martin, R Martin, J Newson; B Warters, M Humphries, T Morton

The B team is as follows: Les Sharp, Ray Keating, Mick Linnell; Brian Bassam, Dick Noble, Graham Agger; Richard Allam, John Holroyd, Jon Earl; Malcolm Squires, Cliff Watson, Peter Brown.