Youngsters star despite defeat for A team at Lincoln
Post date: Jan 27, 2018 8:44:07 PM
A further setback to Stamford Men's A team's hopes of retaining the Lincolnshire League First Division title came at Lincoln when they suffered a 100-68 shot defeat, picking up just two of the 18 points available.
Already beaten at Spalding, Stamford were hoping to take points off the league leaders but found them in no mood to concede their early advantage and fielded a strong team which included former world singles champion Billy Jackson and 2016 national over 50's triples winners Danny Brown and Alan Watts.
Stamford by contrast had several players unavailable and took the opportunity to include nine-year-old Owen Aspinall and 17-year-old prospect James Hebden (pictured above) to give them advance experience of playing at this level.
And they didn't disappoint, joining Neil Wright and Paul Bailey to take on a rink skipped by Kevin Rands. Both performed with great maturity and helped claim a five count on the 10th end, before finally conceding nine shots in the closing ends.
Said Stamford captain Bob Warters: "The young boys played really well and proved they are great prospects for the future."
The only bright spot for Stamford was a 20-9 win over a rink skipped by Jackson, for Owen's dad Wayne, Mick Linnell, Warters and Simon Law.
Jonathan Earl's rink fought back bravely from 5-17 behind to trail 17-18 after 17 ends but conceded three shots on the 18th to finally go down 18-21.
Stamford face another tough away task on Saturday at Louth (2pm).
Result (Stamford names only):
Lincs Men's League Division One: Lincoln A 100 (16 pts) Stamford A 68 (2). M Ramsden, Mal Smith, J Holroyd, J Earl lost 18-21; A Romaine, A Barnes, R Montgomery, Roger Martin lost 11-27; O Aspinall, J Hebden, N Wright, P Bailey lost 13-23; W Aspinall, M Linnell, B Warters, S Law won 20-9; R Allam, C Watson, D Want, P Edwards lost 6-20.
REVENGE FOR B TEAM OVER SLEAFORD
After a complaint that Stamford had fielded an ineligible player last week was upheld and resulted in them sacrificing a four point penalty, Stamford B were determined to exact revenge in the return home fixture against Sleaford.
And so it transpired with Stamford winning 92-83 and clawing back 14 of the 18 points at stake, thanks to three winning rinks.
Best of them was the quartet of T Barwell, Bob Burton, Mark Hebden and Trevor Christie who won by eight shots (21-13) compared to the 22-15 and 22-17 wins of skips Pete Linnell and Richard Martin respectively.
Results (Stamford names only):
Lincs Men's Leagie Division Two: Stamford B 92 (14) Sleaford 83 (4). C Ballard, G Corby, D Heffernan, M Owens lost 14-22; R Blake, D Bruce, D Edwards, M Dye lost 13-16; D Howarth, P Banks, D Veasey, Richard Martin won 22-17; T Barwell, B Burton, M Hebden, T Christie won 21-13; R Graham, G Knights, P Linnell won 22-15.
Nationals
In the EIBA national fours Paul Dalliday, Stephen Harris, James Harford and Martyn Dolby lost an intense battle with the highly rated Spalding quartet of Matt Whyers, Graham Smith, Martin Spencer and Matt Orrey 11-18.
Stephen Harris was beaten in straight sets in the national under 25 singles final stages by Jamie Barker (St Neots).
The semi-final of the National Senior Liberty (Over 60) inter-county knock-out between Lincs and Norfolk will be played at St Neots on February 20 (10.30am).
The Liberty Trophy semi-final, also between Lincs and Norfolk will similarly be played at St Neots, this time on Saturday, March 3.