Spalding Lightning’s defence of their national Denny Cup crown is ended by Lincoln Indoor Bowls Club

Spalding Lightning have booked their place in the next round of the mixed Top Club competition after a home win against Lincoln.

With victories in both singles, pairs and triples and a draw in the fours, Lightning won 14-2 and now face an away trip to Barwell on Sunday, January 5, in the next round.

Rink scores: Ladies Singles – Chelsea Spencer won 21-5; Men’s Singles – Stephen Harris won 21-11; Pairs – Annie Dunham and Dominic McVittie won 28-6; Triples – Danielle Wild, Martin Spencer and Mathew Orrey won 16-9; Fours – Carole Nunney, Louise Harris, Graham Smith and Jordan Philpott drew 18-18.

There were mixed emotions for Spalding Lightning on Saturday as the men crashed out of the Denny Cup as their defence of their national title ended against Lincoln.

However, the ladies progressed in the Yetton Plate with a comfortable win against Skegness.

Lightning faced a strong Lincoln team who were Denny Cup champions in 2004.

Lincoln started the brighter of the two teams and found themselves 20 shots ahead quite early on and, although Spalding showed their battling qualities, it was not enough on the day as they lost 66-83.

The Lightning ladies booked their place in the next round of the Yetton Plate as they romped home with a win against Skegness.

Spalding had opened up a 24-9 lead at five ends, which was extended to 52-27 at 10 ends and 97-38 at 15 before they won 115-57. S

Lightning won on three rinks but the top winning one was skipped by Karen Martin, with Carole Nunney, Petrine Ault and Tracy Philpott who won 43-8. They now face Barwell on Saturday, January 4.

Denny Cup rink scores: Home - Andy Dunham, David Nunney, Graham Smith and Mathew Orrey won 23-17; Kevin Ekins, Owen Aspinall, Simon Lilley and Jordan Philpott lost 14-18; Away - Lewis Parnell, Martin Simpson, Martin Spencer and Dominic McVittie lost 17-19; Dan Mills, Brian Martin, Stephen Harris and Tristan Morton lost 12-29.

Yetton Plate rink scores: Home - Carole Nunney, Petrine Ault, Tracy Philpott and Karen Martin won 43-8; Danielle Wild, Michelle Billingsley, Betty Deaton and Chelsea Spencer won 33-10; Away - Sheila Chamberlain, Chris Jackson, Sue Slayven and Julie Hicks won 26-11; Ann Newbury, Jan Sinclair, Maggie Wheatley and Maisie Belding lost 13-28.

Spalding played their next fixture in the Mixed County League away at Sleaford on Saturday.

Although Spalding managed to win on two rinks, Sleaford won by ten shots (66-76) and 4-10 on match points.

Top winning rink was skipped by Ian Stafford, with Paula Lawson, Anita Phillips and Robin Roffe who won 22-7.

Rink scores: Paula Lawson, Anita Phillips, Robin Roffe and Ian Stafford won 22-7; Chris Williamson, Jan Taylor, Mike Taylor and Anthony Cronin won 17-13; Gill Haydon, Doris Rawding, George Deaton and James Teesdale lost 12-25; Jenny Wakefield, June Angus, Tony Westland and Graham Wright lost 15-29.

Spalding Lightning lost in the Mason Trophy with a narrow defeat against Sleaford on Friday.

The home rink went down by three shots and the away one drew which resulted in a 28-31 win for Sleaford.

Rink scores: Home - Sheila Chamberlain, Jan Sinclair, Maggie Wheatley and Maisie Belding lost 11-14; Away - Ann Newbury, Carole Nunney, Betty Deaton and Julie Hicks drew 17-17.

Spalding's ladies travelled to Lincoln in their next fixture of the Trudy Bates League last Thursday.

They found it tough going as the home team won by 15 shots, 66-81 (2-12).

Spalding did manage one winning rink though which was skipped by Maggie Wheatley, with Jean Patterson, Sue Slayven and Louise Harris who won 22-7.

Despite this defeat, Spalding remain top of the county south division by four points.

Rink scores: Jean Patterson, Sue Slayven, Louise Harris and Maggie Wheatley won 22-7; Ann Newbury, Hazel Tokley, Petrine Ault and Betty Deaton lost 12-15; Sheila Chamberlain, Sue Jackson, Mandy Parkins and Julie Hicks lost 13-26; Jan Sinclair, June Angus, Anita Phillips and Maisie Belding lost 19-33.