Home win sets Stamford Men’s A team on the track to staying in Lincs Division One next year

Maximum points from the visit of Scunthorpe has put Stamford firmly in the driving seat to retain their top division status ahead of their New Year clash with Co-Op Lincs League Division One champions Spalding on January 3.

Stamford men’s A team really gelled together at home to Scunthorpe with a spirit epitomised by Keith Rippin’s end rink who trailed 13-16 with an end to play but snatched five shots at the death to complete the 18 points rout for their team.

The 126-61 result puts Stamford A second in the league behind Boston, who claimed a surprise 14 points at Spalding on Saturday but they will have to show even more determination to overcome the team who beat them narrowly in the Denny Cup last month.

Leading scorers were the rink of Alan Romaine, Richard Montgomery, Bob Warters and Roger Martin who waltzed to 37-11 win, scoring 18 shots without replay from the fifth end.

Result (Stamford names only):Lincs League Division One. Stamford Men’s A 126 (18 pts) Scunthorpe 61 (0). R Allam, C Watson, D King, K Rippin won 18-16; D Hudson, S Travis, D Want, P Edwards won 27-9; S Harris, M Miller, W Morris, M Dolby won 24-10; M Ramsden, C Ballard, A Warrington, J Holroyd won 20-15; A Romaine, R Montgomery, B Warters, R Martin won 37-11.

l Stephen Harris and Martyn Dolby returned to the scene of their Area Six Pairs triumph over Billy Jackson and Danny Brown at Boston last year but could not rediscover the form they showed then. Against home players Keith Tointon and Chris Gill, the pair built up a 9-3 lead with accurate drawing bowls but the opposition started to claw it back by taking the mat up the green and shortening the jack and levelled the scores at halfway.

Tointon then moved into top gear and led superbly as Harris struggled. The Stamford pair dropped a 5 and a 3 and eventually went down 22-16.

l However there was success for Stamford players in the Over 60 pairs when Bob Warters and Roger Martin forced Boston’s Bunny Reeson and Mick Tomlin into submission after 15 ends.

With two of the first five ends killed by opposing skips, the Stamford combination established an 11-3 lead before adding seven shots in four ends. Tomlin eventually waved the white flag at 8-19.

In the Area semi-final, Warters and Martin now host John Needham and his partner from Spalding who defeated Mike Ramsden and Peter Edwards 20-11.

l Stamford’s women bowlers put up a gallant fight at Boston, the current leaders of the inter-club Lincs A league and although winning on three of the five rinks, lost overall by 11 shots.

The result shows an improvement in both form and commitment and augurs well for the New Year.

Top rink was that skipped by Joan Robinson, supported by Rose March, Elizabeth Wallace and club president Carol Warters, who won 21-17, picking up seven shots in the last four ends after trailing 14-16. Sadly Jean Dupree’s quartet conceded 14 in the last seven ends after holding their opposition for long periods.

Results (Stamford names only):Trudy Bates Lincs Women’s League (south): Boston 98 (10) Stamford 89 (6). J Brennan, M Broadbelt, S Suffling won 19-18; R March, E Wallace, C Warters, J Robinson won 21-17; M Andrews, Moira Dolby, M Holroyd, J Dupree lost 10-24; J Want, A Northen, P Birch, G Edwards won 20-19; B Sims, S Henshaw, D Mackie, S Moir lost 19-20.

l Hopes of reaching the Area final of the EIBA Over 60s Fours in which three of them reached the national final in 2012, ended for Mike Ramsden, Bob Warters and Peter Edwards at Boston.

Together with skip Roger Martin they came up against the strong home quartet of Bunny Reeson, Ron Flowers, Paul Flatters and Les Feary on their favourite rink and never quite reached their previous heights of performance.

Dropping five counts on the fourth and 11th ends didn’t help their cause to trail 15-6 and when the Boston players added four more on the 15th end they conceded.

l Stamford IBC stages its annual Christmas tournament for the Mick Owens trophy and over £150 in prize money from brewery sponsors Marston Coors on Monday, December 28. A maximum 24 teams of four playing four sessions of seven ends have entered.

Team captains are asked to register at least 15 minutes before their allotted session.

First session (9.30am): Maggie Holden v Brian Edwards, Tony Barwell v Alan Barnes, Neil Handley v George Cameron, Janet Moore v Trevor Christie, Jeff Bourne v Jonathan Earl, Chris Ballard v Kevin Vinter.

Second session (10.30am): Roger Graham v Christine Ford, David Howarth v Sue Rhodes, Dave Hudson v Mick Linnell, John Holroyd v Wayne Aspinall, Bob Warters v Richard Martin, Glenys Edwards v Derek King.

l Potential bowlers are alerted that Stamford indoor bowls club stages its bi-annual open morning on Saturday, January 9 (9.30-12 noon) when coaches and experienced bowlers will be on hand to organise free introductory sessions.

All equipment required is provided.

Club president Bob Warters said: “ This is a chance for anyone, from children to pensioners and beyond to discover a sport they maybe haven’t considered before.

“At our stadium, off Exeter Gardens, we have one of the best indoor greens in the country with over 500 playing members.

“We provide not only a competitive environment but a facility where bowlers of whatever standard can feel a sense of belonging and companionship.”

For further information visit www.stamfordindoorbowls.co.uk