Stamford Indoor Bowls Club round-up

Giant-killers Boston will be the surprise next opponents for Stamford's women bowlers in the next round of the national inter-club Yetton Trophy in two weeks time.

With their 107-71 shot defeat of Sleaford - claiming the aggregate total of two rinks at home and away playing simultaneously - they expected to meet the talented, multi-internationals of Spalding Lightning but Boston beat them 75-69.

Stamford included two local bowling legends in 90-year-old Peggy Birch and Rosemary Roberts who reaches nonagenarian status next July.

Both played their part in the victory as Peggy figured in an overwhelming 39-10 home rink win alongside Margaret King, Elizabeth Wallace and Moir Holroyd.

Yetton Trophy: Stamford 107 Sleaford 71 (Stamford names only): Home - R.Roberts, J Lonslow, R Downs, S Suffling lost 20-21; M King, P Birch, E Wallace, M Holroyd won 39-10; away - A White, V Du’Kett, M Smith, C Ford won 28-23; J Clarke, J Hynes, R March, D Mackie won 20-17.

Stamford men's hopes of progressing in their national inter-club Denny Cup competition were dealt a blow by local rivals Grantham who they had been beaten twice last week - in the Lincs League (South) and Top Club competitions.

But it was a smarter, re-organised and fiercely determined Grantham who showed up for the derby clash, racing to a 16-shot overall lead at the halfway point of this four-rink encounter with each club fielding two rinks at home and away simultaneously.

Jon Earl’s rink at Grantham gave Stamford a glimpse of hope with a seven-count soon after but it proved too little too late as the usually reliable quartet skipped by Adam Warrington were comfortably dominated by Martin Pulling’s four.

Stamford’s home rinks included Denny debuts for Mike Anderson and Malcolm Mitchell but meagre three shot wins for rinks skipped by Roger Martin and Martin Dolby - albeit against battling Grantham opposition - fell short of what is needed if Stamford are to progress in the Denny Plate for first round losers.

Grantham will go forward to face current holders Spalding Lightning while Stamford take on either Sleaford or Boston in the Denny Plate.

Denny Cup: Grantham 74 Stamford 67. Stamford names only. Home - W Aspinall, M Mitchell, M Anderson, M Dolby won 18-15 T Barwell, T Collins, T Scarr, R Martin won 18-15; away - M Humphreys, W Morris, N Wright, A Warrington lost 12-22; C Ballard, M Linnell, T Newman-Borret, J Earl lost 19-22.

A place in the next round of the prestigious national mixed competition for the Egham Trophy eluded Stamford on Sunday despite a late rally against Boston.

After 18 of the scheduled 21 ends, Stamford trailed overall by 19 shots with the likelihood of a premature finish.

But, with the home rinks struggling to keep the experienced opposition at bay, news came through that away rinks skipped by Jon Earl and Martyn Dolby were staging a fightback.

From three shots adrift, Earl’s rink of Mick Humphreys, Sue Moir and Chris Ford surged ahead 23-18 by the close while Dolby's four salvaged a draw from six behind with three ends to play.

Egham Trophy: Stamford 71 Boston 77. Stamford names only. Home- R Downs, D Mackie, N Wright, A Warrington lost 16-20; S Suffling, M Smith, C Ballard, T Newman-Borret lost 12-19; away - M Humphreys, S Moir, C Ford J Earl won 23-18; E Wallace, M Holroyd, M Linnell, M Dolby drew 20-20.

Stamford follow up their latest win in the Lincs Mixed League (South) when they entertain bottom of the table Skegness on Saturday (2pm).

Team: Julie Hynes, Carol Warters, Alec March, Ian Smith; Rosemary Roberts, Rose March, Alfie Hynes, Neil Crees; Ron Blake, Janet Lonslow, Shirley Suffling, Bob Warters; Julie Allen, John Suffling, Sue Moir, Mike Ramsden.

In the Lincs women’s southern section, Stamford lost 76-71 at Spalding with just one winning rink of Ann White, Val Du’Kett, Lynn Tuck and Chris Ford.

The first of Stamford's two teams competing in the national Over 60 Double Rink on Tuesday had a great chance to stamp their mark on the competition against Sleaford A but, after leading 24-17 after 10 of the 18 ends, Stamford B stumbled to a 39-47 defeat.

While the away rink skipped by Kevin Vinter started cautiously, they were buoyed to learn of the home rink's 16-4 lead at halfway.

But, while Vinter’s quartet surged ahead, their home team were unable to stem the tide of shots picked up by Tony Stanley’s Sleaford rink which added 28 shots without reply.

Over 60 Double Rink: Sleaford A 47 Stamford B 39 ( Stamford names only) - Home - P Linnell, P Burt, P Smith, M Hewitt lost. 16-28. Away - J Bourne, G Patrickson, D Oakey, K Vinter won 23-19.

Stamford's Double Rink A team will meet former winners Boston on November 26. Boston beat Sleaford B 34-22.

The Stamford senior team to travel to Grantham on Tuesday for a Lincs Over 60s League (South) fixture (10 am).

The line-up is J Holroyd, G Patrickson, M Hewitt, K Vinter (capt); J Bourne, I Smith, M Linnell, R Martin; T Barwell, D King, D Oakey, T Collins; P Linnell, K Rippin, P Smith, B Warters.

Stephen Harris, Ollie Jeapes and Owen Aspinall, who play their domestic bowls at Stamford IBC, have been selected for trials for the England team. All will also represent Spalding Lightning.

Harris has been selected for the senior England trials, Jeapes and Aspinall for the Under 25s.

Stamford IBC will be staging its annual open Christmas Fours tournament on Saturday, December 28.

Each team will play four sessions of seven ends with two points for a win and a point for every end won. There will be cash prizes and entry forms will be available at the club later this week.