Spalding Lightning are through to the quarter-final of the Egham Trophy bowls competition

Spalding Lightning are through to the quarter-final of the Egham Trophy after a convincing win against Barwell.

Lightning were always in control and Barwell conceded when all rinks had played between 12 and 14 ends with the score at 78-26.

Although winning on all rinks, the main damage was done by the rink skipped at home by Graham Smith, with Kevin Ekins, Carole Nunney and Annie Dunham who had an impressive 28-2 success.

The national quarter-final will be played on Sunday, January 14, with the opposition still to be decided.

Rink scores: Home - Kevin Ekins, Carole Nunney, Annie Dunham and Graham Smith won 28-2; Ruby Hill, Tracy Philpott, Simon Lilley and Jordan Philpott won 18-7; Away - Stephen Harris, Julie Hicks, Chelsea Spencer and Mathew Orrey won 18-7; Jean Patterson, Karen Martin, Martin Spencer and Dominic McVittie won 14-10.

There were mixed emotions for Spalding Lightning on Saturday as the men progressed in the Denny Cup but the ladies crashed out of the Yetton Trophy.

The Denny Cup is a competition that Lightning won in 2022 and they beat Huntingdon by 16 shots, 81-65, to book their place in the last 16.

Lightning were three behind at five ends but, by 10 ends, they were 45-27 up. The lead was reduced slightly by 15 ends (58-46) before Spalding won 81-65.

Lightning won on all rinks but top winning rink was skipped at home by Jordan Philpott, with Kevin Ekins, David Nunney and Simon Lilley who won 24-15.

The other home rink, skipped by Mathew Orrey, also had an impressive result against Nicky Brett as they turned around a 13-2 deficit to eventually win 18-16.

They now face Nottingham in the last 16 on Saturday, January 6.

Rink scores: Home - Kevin Ekins, David Nunney, Simon Lilley and Jordan Philpott won 24-15; Dan Mills, Jack Wells, Graham Smith and Mathew Orrey won 18-16; Away - Ollie Jeapes, Martin Simpson, Martin Spencer and Dominic McVittie won 18-15; Brian Martin, Nick Wilkie, Stephen Harris and Tristan Morton won 21-19.

The ladies played a strong St Neots side in the last 32 of the Yetton Trophy.

The match was closely contested and Lightning were in front by one shot at 10 ends.

However, St Neots pulled away in the second half of the game as they went 68-61 up at 15 ends before eventually winning 94-81.

Lightning did manage one winning rink which was skipped by Chelsea Spencer, with Carole Nunney, Mandy Parkins and Sandra Hammond who won 26-11.

Rink scores: Home - Carole Nunney, Mandy Parkins, Sandra Hammond and Chelsea Spencer won 26-11; Jean Patterson, Petrine Ault, Tracy Philpott and Ruby Hill lost 19-33; Away - Ann Newbury, Michelle Billingsley, Betty Deaton and Julie Hicks lost 19-21; Jan Sinclair, Sue Slayven, Maggie Wheatley and Maisie Belding lost 17-29.

Spalding enjoyed a friendly fixture against the Lincolnshire VPs on Sunday.

They started the stronger of the two teams and were as many as 30 shots ahead but the visitors fought back to reduce the deficit to six at 14 ends. Spalding eventually won 106-92.

Top winning rink was skipped by George Deaton, with Tony Westland, Paul Lockie and Martin Holmes who won 25-7.