Top of the table Men's A team beat Boston

Post date: Feb 21, 2016 7:29:54 PM

With a 13-shot victory at home to Boston, Stamford Men's A team have taken a one point lead over their rivals at the top of the Lincolnshire League First Division, claiming 14 of the 18 points available with three out of five winning rinks.

They might have taken a maximum but Roger Martin's rink held four shots on the last end when opposing skip Adrian Field, dragged the jack into the ditch to claim an 18-17 win. And despite three on the last end, Peter Edwards slipped up 20-22.

A total of eight shots from the 19th and 20th ends put Derek King's rink out of reach to the extent they could afford dropping five on the last to win 25-21.

Elsewhere, Martyn Dolby's re-shuffled rink always just had enough in hand to run out 17-13 winners, while 17 shots during a prolific 11-end period, earned Jay Travis-Jenner, Cliff Watson, Adam Warrington and John Holroyd the rink honours 22-14.

Spalding and Lincoln hold the key to outcome of the title as both have to play Stamford and Boston before the season ends in April.

Result (Stamford names only):

Lincs League Division One: Stamford 101 (14 pts) Boston 88 (4). J Travis-Jenner, C Watson, A Warrington, J Holroyd won 22-14; W Morris, J Earl, P Bailey, M Dolby won 17-13; A Romaine, M Cullingworth, B Warters, R F Martin lost 17-18; D Hudson, S Travis, D Want, P Edwards lost 20-22; R Allam, A Barnes, K Rippin, D King won 25-21.

FOOTNOTE: Boston have reached the semi-final of the Denny Plate after defeating Thornaby both home and away. Their next opponents are Ely City.

While the A team rides high, chances of Stamford Men's B team avoiding relegation from the second Division of the Lincs League, after winning the Division Three last season, looked doomed after a 107-70 defeat at top of the table Long Sutton.

Despite a couple of sturdy rink performances, they failed to bring back a single point from the 18 available and with only one match to play, away to bottom club Spalding B, they need those above them to falter to avoid the drop back into the third tier.

Result (Stamford names only):

Lincs Men's League Division Two. Long Sutton 107 (18)' Stamford B 70 (0). K Rawlins, J Geary, R Graham, M Owens lost 11-21; A Lonslow, DVeasey, C Ballard, M Hewitt lost 15-26; W Kettle, C Jones, D Heffernan, T Christie lost 17-19; D Howarth, D Bruce, N Graham, P Banks lost 16-17; T Barwell, M De Camps, P Linnell, D Henshaw lost 11-24.

Martyn Dolby has made a strong defence of his Lincs Over 65 singles by reaching the semi-finals on March 20 at Spalding where he will meet home-based former football referee Maurice Elding.

Dolby beat Sleaford's Brian Jenkinson, who had earlier beaten Stamford's Keith Rippin, while Elding accounted first for former winner Bob Warters 19-13, then Stamford's Alan Romaine 16-15.

Derek King also had a chance to go through but after beating Long Sutton's Eric Dilnot, lost on the last end to Horncastle's bandana-wearing George Lancaster.

In the mixed pairs Stephen and Louise Harris beat the Allens from Boston in an exciting tussle 21-19 to reach the county semi-finals.

The finals of the Northants Women's Triples at Peterborough on March 15 will be an all-Stamford affair after two semi-finals played simultaneously.

Jan Want, Shirley Suffling and Christine Ford trailed Fiona Richardson, Liz Barr and Julie Masters 1-11 and the 10-17 with just four ends to play before securing 11 shots without reply.

Meanwhile Moira Holroyd, Margaret Bloxham and Joan Robinson dominated their match against Margaret Andrews, Sue Moir and Glenys Edwards running out comfortable winners.

Holroyd and Edwards also lost their pairs against the holders Jenny Harvey and Carol Hunter and Want and Robinson were beaten by Richardson and Masters on an extra end.

Robinson and Nick Wilkie beat defending champions Ann Holmes and Richard Allam 22-13 in the mixed pairs.