Spalding Indoor Bowls Club round-up
Spalding Lightning got through to the last 16 of the Mixed Top Club competition after winning at home against Huntingdon on Sunday.
Against a team which also boasts international players of their own, Spalding secured early points when Annie Dunham won in the ladies singles.
However, the overall match was certainly in the balance before Stephen Harris won the men's singles with his last bowl of the game.
This meant that Spalding Lightning needed one win from the last three disciplines and an aggregate win to progress to the next round.
Wins in the pairs and fours ensured a safe passage into the last 16 and a 12-4 match win. They travel to Nottingham in the next round on Sunday, January 7.
Rink scores: Ladies singles – Annie Dunham won 21-13; Men’s Singles – Stephen Harris won 21-20; Pairs – Chelsea Spencer and Dominic McVittie won 18-15; Triples – Jean Patterson, Graham Smith and Jordan Philpott lost 13-22; Fours – Ruby Hill, Louise Harris, Martin Spencer and Mathew Orrey won 15-12.
Spalding Lightning also progressed in both the Denny Cup and Yetton Trophy with wins against Boston and Barwell respectively.
The men faced Boston in the Denny Cup and the match was closely contested, albeit Lightning managed to keep their noses in front for the majority of the game.
Lightning were 21-16 up at five ends, 41-36 at 10 ends and 56-53 at 15 ends before a strong finish by the 2021 champions for a 85-68 win.
Lightning won on two rinks and lost on two but the difference was the rinks skipped by Graham Smith at home and Dominic McVittie away who won 29-15 and 22-8 respectively. They now face Huntingdon on Saturday, December 9.
Rink scores: Home - Dan Mills, Jack Wells, Stephen Harris and Graham Smith won 29-15; Kevin Ekins, Ollie Jeapes, Simon Lilley and Jordan Philpott lost 20-22; Away - Lewis Parnell, Martin Simpson, Martin Spencer and Dominic McVittie won 22-8; Brian Martin, Nick Wilkie, Ean Morton and Tristan Morton lost 14-23.
The Lightning ladies were in front during the early exchanges of their Yetton Trophy tie with Barwell.
They were 20-10 up at five ends and 33-29 at ten ends but Barwell had taken a narrow lead at 15 ends (47-50).
Lightning were soon back in front by 18 ends (65-55) before winning the match by 14 shots, 77-63.
The damage was certainly done at home by the rinks skipped by Chelsea Spencer and Ruby Hill.
The top winning rink was skipped by Ruby, with Jean Patterson, Petrine Ault and Tracy Philpott who won 29-10. They now take on St Neots on Saturday, December 9.
Rink scores: Home - Jean Patterson, Petrine Ault, Tracy Philpott and Ruby Hill won 29-10; Carole Nunney, Mandy Parkin, Sandra Hammond and Chelsea Spencer won 23-7; Away - Ann Newbury, Michelle Billingsley, Betty Deaton and Julie Hicks lost 10-20; Jan Sinclair, Sue Slayven, Maggie Wheatley and Maisie Belding lost 15-26.
Lightning produced a dominant display against Grantham in the Egham Trophy.
They stamped their authority from the outset and won on all rinks.
Top winning rink was skipped at home by Annie Dunham, with Dan Mills, Maggie Wheatley and Kevin Ekins who had an impressive 36-9 rink win.
They now face Huntingdon on Sunday in a repeat of last season's national semi-final.
Rink scores: Home - Dan Mills, Maggie Wheatley, Kevin Ekins and Annie Dunham won 36-9; Carole Nunney, Tracy Philpott, Simon Lilley and Jordan Philpott won 20-15; Away - Jean Patterson, Julie Hicks, Stephen Harris and Graham Smith won 25-13; Brian Martin, Louise Harris, Ruby Hill and Dominic McVittie won 23-13.
Spalding will be well represented at the English Indoor Bowling Association's international trials at Nottingham next month.
They will have someone taking part at every level over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, December 2 and 3.
Senior Men – Stephen Harris, Graham Smith and Dominic McVittie; Senior Women – Ruby Hill, Chelsea Spencer and Annie Dunham; Under 25 Men and Mixed Under 18 – Ollie Jeapes; Under 25 Women – Ruby Hill.
Spalding remain undefeated in the South Division of the County Mixed League after victory over Grantham on Sunday.
Grantham started the stronger of the two teams and were five shots ahead at the halfway stage. Spalding dominated the second half though to win overall by 35 shots 94-59.
Three rink wins and a narrow defeat saw Spalding also win 12-2 on match points.
Top winning rink was skipped by David Nunney, with Carole Nunney, George Deaton and Betty Deaton who won 27-10.
Spalding stay top of the division and their next fixture will be away at Grantham on Saturday, January 6.
Rink scores: Carole Nunney, George Deaton, Betty Deaton and David Nunney won 27-10; Gill Haydon, Petrine Ault, Mike Taylor and Anthony Cronin won 24-11; Jan Sinclair, Tim Rogers, Maisie Belding and Mick Jennings won 25-19; Tony Westland, Sue Slayven, Maggie Wheatley and Graham Wright lost 18-19.
The men are also undefeated in the County League after winning a close contest at Boston by six shots, 78-72, as well as securing 10 of the available 14 match points.
Top winning rink was skipped by Dan Mills, with Nathan Puttrell, Jack Wells and James Teesdale who won 26-13.
Spalding are second in the south division, only four points behind Grantham who they host on Saturday, December 2.
Before then though, Spalding will play Stamford B on Saturday.
Rink scores: Nathan Puttrell, Jack Wells, James Teesdale and Dan Mills won 26-13; Oliver Stanley, Kevin Puttrell, Chris Warboys and Brian Martin won 20-15; Aiden Brickles, Gavin Staite, Tim Rogers and David Nunney lost 20-23; Max Butters, Robin Roffe, Lewis Parnell and Ian Stafford lost 12-21.
Spalding were beaten in the men's Over 60 County League by a strong Lincoln team who are currently top of the South Division.
They proved too good on the day and won the overall match aggregate by 18 shots, 64-82. The match result was 11-3 in Lincoln’s favour.
Spalding did manage one winning rink which was skipped by Mick Jennings, with Martyn Stanley, Dave Amess and Roger Billingsley who won 19-18.
Rink scores: M. Stanley, D. Amess, R. Billingsley and M. Jennings won 19-18; M. Taylor, R. Roffe, I. Harwood and D. Nunney drew 17-17; B. Hodges, J. Teasdale, I. Stafford and T. Windsor lost 14-18; P. Turner, G. Hicks, K. Jackson and G. Wright lost 14-29.
There was an exciting finish to the Over 60 double rink match against Stamford which was decided on the last end.
One rink was played at home and one away and Spalding won overall by a single shot, 32-31. Their next match is against Louth on Tuesday.
Rink scores: Home - Bill Hodges, Mike Taylor, Graham Hicks and Graham Wright lost 12-17; Away - Mick Dolton, Ian Stafford, Terry Windsor and David Nunney won 20-14.
Spalding had an enjoyable friendly fixture at Melton Mowbray last Sunday.
The match was closely-contested with Melton coming out on top by six shots (113-119).
Spalding's top winning rink was skipped by J McGroaty with J Rawding and D Brinkman.
