Unlucky Ladies! Mason Trophy campaign ends on a measure

The Stamford (left) and Barwell players, together with the umpire, who took part in the Masons Trophy away leg

IT TOOK a measure on the last end to separate Stamford and Barwell when they clashed in the round of the last 32 of the Women's Senior Mason Trophy double rink competition, with the Leicestershire side finally edging it 35-34.

With the Stamford rink of four (playing at Barwell) having finished with a three count to lose by only one shot (17-18), Stamford's home rink needed to win the last of the 18 ends to clinch a last 16 place against either Lincoln A or B.

But as the away players waited anxiously for the final end scores to by texted through, Stamford's home team were unable to prevent their opponents forcing a 17-17 draw to pinch the tie by the narrowest of margins.

At Barwell, Stamford got off to a shocking start, desperately trying to adjust to a slower carpet and it was eight ends before they picked up their first shot, by which time Barwell had raced ahead with 16 of their own.

However, showing great determination - front ends June Brennan and Carol Warters got to grips with a shortened jack with Shirley Suffling finding her touch and skip Christine Ford making some key saves and conversions - the quartet added eight without reply.

The 9-16 away scoreline at 15 ends gave the Stamford home players - Christine Barnes, Flick Rogers, Glenys Edwards and Joan Robinson - a boost and they responded with nine shots of their own without reply from an initial 1-12 deficit and snatched a 16-15 lead at 15 ends.

Meanwhile the away players picked up a five, a one and a three (on the last end) to leave the match balanced on a knife edge at 33-apiece with still three ends to be played at Stamford.

Sadly the team, who have had a great campaign, with victories over March, Peterborough and Long Sutton, didn't quite get over the line. BW