Narrow defeat by defending national champions

Post date: Apr 5, 2015 7:15:15 AM

In an exiting climax to their last 16 match in the English Indoor pairs, Stamford's Stephen Harris and Martyn Dolby took defending champions Andy Manton and Neil McKee (below, right) to the wire before conceding 21-22 on the last of their 21-end match, writes Bob Warters.

Harris (17) and Dolby - exactly 50 years his senior partner - were encouraged by their first round defeat of the Wellworthy pair but knew that the duo from Kingsthorpe (Northampton) would put them under pressure in the early exchanges and so it proved.

They took a 12-4 lead when McKee drew three immaculate shots within inches before Harris, the youngest competitor at this stage of the competition,who impressed the crowd and watching officials flanking the end rink,started to get on top of his opposite number. Dolby was also buoyed by the confidence his partner was showing and came in with some precision conversions to close the gap at 15-19.

With two ends to play it looked beyond the Stamford pair's reach at 16-22 but a three on the penultimate end closed the gap and when Dolby drew in after Harris dropped his last three bowls around the jack, a shock looked on the cards.

But McKee, playing with weight, removed two of Harris's purple bowls and Dolby was unable to draw close enough to force an extra end.

The winners then went on to beat Cyphers 18-14 and reach the semi-final but we're finally beaten by Mike Knight and Robert Newman from Desborough (Maidenhead) 24-12. Spalding's Rebecca Simpson, expecting he first child in five months and Annilesa Dunham have also reached the final of the women's pairs.

STAMFORD'S Men's A team completed their Division One County League fixtures with 139-77 demolition of already relegated Sleaford A -claiming 14 of the 18 points to cement their place in the top three behind Spalding and Boston.

Captain Adam Warrington was crippled in his selection by late withdrawals but those who came in all performed with great credit and Sleaford proved no match for their tenacity in helping to ensure the team finished on a high note with three rinks topping 30 shots.

Among them was Peter Banks who helped Dave Hudson, Doug Want and Peter Edwards take the rink honours 37-10, recording 16 shots without reply in the last seven ends after taking a 13-0 lead from the first five.

Roger Martin included a 7,6,3,5 run in successive ends in his rink's 37-12 win, while Keith Rippin's rink fought back from 1-18 after eight ends to level the score at 21 across but conceded two shots in the closing stages.

Results

Lincs County League Division One: Stamford A 139 (14pts), Sleaford A 77 (4). (Stamford names only). M Ramsden, R Keating, C Ballard, K Rippin lost 22-23; K Rawlins, T Christie, A Warrington, B Warters won 30-16; S Travis, M Owens, R Montgomery, R Martin won 37-12; D Hudson, D Want, P Banks, P Edwards won 37-10; A Romaine, D Miller, J Travis-Jenner, C Watson lost 13-16.

FOOTNOTE: Sleaford captain Fred Collin had his grey trousers (with black belt) taken from the men's locker room and is anxious to trace the owner of a pair of Henselite grey trousers (with brown belt) left on his peg in their place (with a hole in one pocket and piece of chalk in the other). Fred had to travel home in his whites. Please contact Stamford IBC reception if you can shed any further light on the mystery.

Said Fred: "Whoever is wearing my trousers they're bound to find them a bit baggy. I couldn't get into the ones they left behind!"