Tough Start for the County Team

Tough start for indoor bowlers

Stamford’s indoor bowlers - in newly-sponsored black and orange shirts - kicked-off their 2025-26 season with a 73-105 home defeat for the Men’s B team in the Lincs League Division Two against Scunthorpe.

Not since the Covid epidemic have the two clubs - 80 miles apart - met, after the county executive re-modelled the league into north and south divisions.

The new format will find John Suffling’s B team also facing trips to Dunholme, Boston B, Sleaford, Skegness and Grantham.

Stamford A - champions in 2023-24 - were due to play at Lincoln in their opening division one fixture but had to postpone until a later date. At home and away they will subsequently face Boston A, Louth, Horncastle and Spalding Lightning - now temporarily operating from the former Long Sutton IBC.

The B team put up a stubborn fight but were outgunned in the latter stages once the visitors became accustomed to the unfamiliar surface.

Stamford B 73 (0 pts) Scunthorpe 105 (0): Stamford names only: D Morgan, I Zucchetti, M Dye, D Henshaw lost 19-26; A Patterson, G Hulme, D Edwards, J V Pearson lost 19-26; R Blake, G Clarke, A Hynes, P Buckley lost 21-23; K Rawlins, F Knapp J Suffling, B Orme lost 14-30.

Stamford’s mixed team visit Dunholme in the first match of the Division Two season on Sunday (1.30pm).

Team: L Cave, L Hulme, D Hudson, D Cave; R Blake, S Henshaw, R March, D Henshaw; C Warters, J Lonslow, G Hulme, A March; J Suffling, V Du’Kett, S Suffling, B Warters.

The draws have been made for the qualifying rounds of the Lincs IBA county competitions, with Stamford players well represented.

Men’s singles: A Warrington or T Newman - Borret v T Barwell; N Wilkie v N Wright; G Patrickson v C Ballard; O Aspinall v N Crees or M Porter.

Open Sets singles: C Ford or A Warrington v C Ballard or G Patrickson, T Barwell v J Pearson, M Porter v N Wright, S Suffling v N Wilkie, N Crees or O Aspinall v J Suffling or K Porter.

Over 60 Open Singles: J Pearson or J Bourne v C Ford or J Suffling, T Barwell or S Suffling v G Patrickson or K Vinter, M Porter or N Crees v J Pitt.

Club competition forms are now available from reception. Closing dates are October 21.

For more information visit www.stamfordindoorbowls.co.uk