Stamford Men's B topple visitors Skegness

Post date: Jan 31, 2016 8:09:02 PM

Stamford Men's B team clawed their way off the bottom of the Lincs Division two table with 109-87 home defeat of fellow strugglers Skegness.

With only 24 points from their first six games, the second strings to First Division leaders Stamford A had had a dismal start to the season, but this second successive home win, earned them 14 valuable points which helped to leapfrog - at least temporarily - over bottom club Spalding B who finish with three successive home games.

Stamford have only one home match - against Sleaford - and away fixtures at Long Sutton and Spalding and must take vital points to stave off relegation.

Leading the rally against Skegness were Tony Barwell, Don Bruce, Tony Mackie and skip Peter Banks (pictured left) with an impressive 28-12 win, while captain Dennis Henshaw steered Wally Kettle, Derek Veasey and Pete Linnell to a confidence-boosting 25-13 defeat of Brian Hawes rink. Martin Hewitt's quartet also triumphed 24-16.

Results (Stamford names only)

Lincs Division Two. Stamford 109 (14) Skegness 87 (4). A Lonslow, N Graham, C Ballard, M Hewitt won 24-16; W Kettle, D Veasey, P Linnell, D Henshaw won 25-13; T Barwell, D Bruce, T Mackie, P Banks won 28-12; K Rawlins, R Graham, D Heffernan, A Horton lost 18-26; P Pheasant, M De Camps, J Geary, M Owens lost 14-20.

In Monday's Lincs County triples, Mick Gayler, Bruce Acock and Tony Barwell held a slender one shot lead over the highly rated Grantham trio of Martin Pulling, Dion Auckland and Mathew Orrey with just six ends to play.

But with the winning line insight, inevitably concentration faltered and they dropped counts of four and three. And in chasing six needed to salvage the tie on the last end finally lost 23-11 - a brave effort.

Stephen Harris and his sister Louise have reached the quarter-finals of the Lincs county mixed pairs with a 23-10 defeat of Sleaford's Davies and Hubbard.

Stephen's rink also accounted Ali Brunton's Grantham quartet 27-16. However, Grantham's Martin Pulling and Mathew Orrey out-bowled Mike Ramsden and Peter Edwards 25-15.

Malcolm and Ann Cullingworth and Richard Montgomery are the first Stamford players to reach the semi finals of the Northants Bowling Federation's two-bowl mixed triples. They beat clubmates John and Moira Holroyd and David Hudson 21-14.

Elsewhere in the same event, Peter and Glenys Edwards, paired with Cliff Watson, ousted Bob and Carol Warters and Roger Martin in a high scoring game 27-24, while Richard Allam, Shirley Suffling and Derek King toppled Joan Robinson, Mick Humphreys and Tony Scarr 20-12.

In other Northants Federation competitions there were wins for Dennis Henshaw and Bob Warters at Peterborough in the Senior singles over Malcolm Squires (21-12) and Dick Noble (21-7) respectively.

Joan Robinson and mixed pairs partner Nick Wilkie beat Sheila Craig and Noble 17-15, Shirley Suffling and Derek King beat Julie Masters and Brian Bassam and holders Ann Holmes and Richard Allam beat Keith Burrows and his partner 21-9.

However, Jan and Dougie Want and Jay Travis-Jenner proved no match for Neil Wright, Fiona Richardson and Simon Law in the mixed triples.

Shirley Suffling made an impressive debut for Lincs Ladies in their Midland Counties defeat of Bedfordshire, winning 18-16 on her rink. She has also been selected for the match against Leicestershire.

Stamford indoor bowls club is saddened to announce the death of Nigel Kettle, aged 93.

Nigel, a former company secretary to clothing outfitters J Parish and Sons, was a keen player for the latter part of his years, played regularly for the club's Over 60s county league team and was an avid student of the game, practising whenever he got the opportunity often several hours a day.

He was awarded life membership for his devotion to the club and his generosity in providing the electronic scoreboard which dominates the east wall and sponsoring the annual Open tournament which continues to carry his name.

The funeral service will take place at All Saints Church, Stamford on Wednesday 17th February at 11.30 am followed by cremation at Marholm crematorium.

Friendly Captain Denis Stapleton reports:

Proving that bowls can be 'family friendly' our best rink in our latest friendly away fixture at Boston was made up of two married couples, Graham and Hilary Watson and Tina and promising newcomer Garry Knights. Their win was particularly impressive as they found themselves 10-0 down after six ends, drew back level 10-10 after twelve ends and went on to win 21-14. Running them close for the honour was Mark Hebden's rink who were behind until the twelfth end and went on the take eight of the remaining ends. Just shows you, it can be a game of two halves and never give up ! Unfortunately are winning run came to an end, but we only lost by ten shots 104-114.

Rinks scores (Stamford names only): Betty Sims, Claudette Herman, Jeff Bourne, Arthur Lonslow lost 8-26; Janet Lonslow, Margaret Grainger, Martin Costin, Mark Hebden won 21-15; Hilary Watson, Tina Knights, Graham Watson, Garry Knights won 21-14; Harry Fidom, Serena Brunning, Neil Handley, Doug Ellis lost 13-19; Janet Dye, Maggie Holden, Richard Horne, Maurice Dye won 21-20

Next match is the away leg of our Welland Salver match against Spalding. We take with us a thirty shot lead, which one would hope would be good enough to help us retain the trophy, fingers crossed. It's a shame that three players who were picked to play have dropped out this week and we still have to find one replacement. Easy you say, you would think so, but as all of the captains of most of our teams know, in the words of William Shakespeare, it ain't! If there is a volunteer out there please phone Denis Stapleton on 07913 705621.