Stamford march on in Top Club event

Post date: Nov 18, 2018 3:54:49 PM

Stamford bowlers completed a hat-trick of national competition wins over the weekend by defeating Kettering Lodge in the Top Club competition at the Northants club's own four-rinker.

They took the points 12-4, despite Adam Warrington and Helen Holroyd losing both initial men's and women's singles matches.

In this mixed format, women also combine with men in the pairs, triples and fours in search of aggregate points to decide the outcome. Having already beaten Kempston Park (Bedford), Stamford must now travel to the Kingsthorpe club in Northampton.

Due to late withdrawals captain Paul Bailey named himself in what turned out to be an explosive pairs match alongside his daughter Katie. After playing 26 ends - eight of which were killed in a firing fest with his opposition skip Adrian Harris - the Baileys emerged 21-11 winners.

Earlier Bob Warters filled in as a late replacement as No.3 to Martyn Dolby in the fours -alongside Elizabeth Wallace and Shirley Suffling - and the quartet gelled well to secure a vital 17-10 victory from a 10-8 deficit with five of the 18 ends to play.

Completing the scoreline, Paul Dalliday, Christine Ford and Jeff Newson scored 15 shots in three ends from the fifth end, to set up a comfortable nine shot win and ensure overall victory for Stamford in some style.

Results : Top Club: Kettering Lodge 71 (4pts) Stamford 89 (12). Singles - Adam Warrington lost 11-21, Helen Holroyd lost 13-21; pairs - Katie & Paul Bailey won 21-11; triples - Paul Dalliday, Chris Ford & Jeff Newson won 27-18; fours - Elizabeth Wallace, Shirley Suffling, Bob Warters & Martyn Dolby won 17-10.

STAMFORD B OVERWHELM BOSTON B

A three-match winning streak by Boston B was quickly halted by Stamford's second string, who inflicted an 85-shot defeat on their neighbours - claiming all 18 Lincs Men's League Division Two points.

Such was the margin of domination that only one of the five Stamford rinks failed to register 30 shots and it almost needed a calculator to award the rink prizes to Keith Gentry's quartet!

Assisted by Tony Barwell, Derek Veasey and Martin Hewitt, they won 35-11 which included two five counts. Mick Owen's rink claimed three 'fives' with Alan Barnes and Derek King picked up a six apiece.

The win lifts Stamford B into second place above Horncastle, to whom they lost their opening game. Their next fixture is at home to relegated Spalding on Sunday (2pm).

FOOTNOTE: A minute's silence was observed after the match in memory of club stalwart and former B team player Arthur Chapman, who died this week aged 96.

Result (Stamford names only):

Lincs League Division Two: Stamford B 150 (18 pts) Boston B 65 (0). t Barwell, D Veasey, M Hewitt, K Gentry won 35-11; A Lonslow, D Miller, A McNaught, D King won 30-20; D Howarth, M Cullingworth, R Montgomery, A Barnes won 30-13; P Linnell, T Mackie, M Hebden, T Christie won 23-10; K Rippin, D Henshaw, D Heffernan, M Owens won 32-11.

Stephen and Louise Harris reached the second round of the national family pairs with a 20-2 demolition of Spalding brother and sister Danielle and Aaron Wild.