Stamford Indoor Bowls Club round-up
After losing out by just a handful of points for qualification as county finalists in last season’s Lincolnshire Men’s League, Spalding bowlers exacted revenge by taking a maximum haul at Stamford on Saturday.
It was a humbling experience for the current holders of the county title who were unable to match the intensity and skill their opponents brought to the green.
It was a lesson in modern bowls from which newcomers to the game - and those more experienced - can learn.
No matter how well bowls might have been drawn to it, no jack was safe among players able to convert subtly or destroy heads brutally with such regularity.
The visitors were quickly into their stride and, though Jeff Pitt’s quartet of Jim Pryor, Keith Rippin and 16-year-old Owen Aspinall, took an early 10-4 lead against Jordan Philpott’s rink, the visitors elsewhere were already coming to terms with the carpet's idiosyncrasies.
Spalding led overall by 13 shots by halfway and 60-35 by 15 of the scheduled 21 ends.
They eventually won 80-46 on all rinks to claim a maximum 14 points.
It takes them 28 points clear at the top of the southern section though Stamford still have two games in hand.
Reflecting the clubs' contrasting colours - the potential outcome is all there in black and white!
Results: Lincs Men’s League (South): Stamford 46 (0) Spalding 80 (14). Stamford names first: J Pryor, K Rippin, O Aspinall, J Pitt lost to T Westland, C Warboys, D Mills, J Philpott 15-22; T Barwell, D Oakey, C Ballard, T Collins lost to L Parnell, E Morton, D McVittie 13-18; B Warters, M Ramsden, M Linnell, R Martin lost to E Wakefield, A Cronin, D Nunney, K Ekins 12-18; W Aspinall, M Mitchell, N Wright, A Warrington lost to N Wilkie, T Windsor, M Simpson, B Martin 6-22.
Despite Boston beating Essex County in the quarter-final of the Denny Plate on Saturday morning, they were able in the afternoon to field an A team strong enough to take maximum points from Stamford B in the southern division of the county league (111-55).
Lincs Men’s League (South): Boston A 111 (14) Stamford B 55 (0). Stamford names only. K Rawlins, C Jones, D Wilkinson, I Smith lost 16-27; R Blake, G Clarke, M Dye, D Henshaw lost 4-41; D Bruce, A Patterson, A Hynes, M Hewitt lost 18-24; P Shaw, D Morgan, J Suffling, B Orme lost 17-19.
Still licking their wounds following the home Lincs League defeat by Spalding, Stamford Men’s A team travel to Sleaford on Saturday seeking redemption.
Those drafted into a re-shuffled side include Jay Travis, Dave Heffernan, Kevin Vinter, Graham Patrickson and Ron Blake.
Team: M Mitchell, J Travis, N Wright, A Warrington; M Ramsden, D Heffernan, M Linnell, R Martin; T Barwell, G Patrickson, K Vinter, T Collins; R Blake, J Pryor, C Ballard, J Pitt.
Stamford seniors also travel to Sleaford on Monday, February 24 (10am).
Team: T Barwell, D Bruce, D Oakey, J Pitt; T Bourne, P Shaw, K Vinter, R Martin; D Heffernan, P Burt, M Hewitt, D King; T Scarr, D Henshaw, P Smith, T Collins.
The defeat of holder Neil Wright by Kevin Tuck has thrown the Stamford IBC club singles wide open.
Tuck now faces the winner of the tie between former winner Adam Warrington and new member Pip Warters.
Elsewhere in the Open Sets singles, Tuck takes on John Holroyd or Chris Ballard and in the Open Senior singles Shirley Suffling plays former winner Martyn Dolby.
Over 60 Open singles: T Barwell v C Ford or P Collins, D King or J Pearson v B Orme, J Pitt or K Vinter v S Suffling or M Dolby.
Men’s Singles: W Morris v J Pryor or J Travis, J Holroyd or N Crees v J Pitt or M Anderson, D Lightbody or T Barwell v M Porter, P Warters or A Warrington v K Tuck.
Open Sets singles: N Crees v A Speechley or D King, J Holroyd v C Ballard or L Tuck, W Aspinall v M Holroyd, P Smith v A Warrington, G King or K Tuck v P Warters.
Women’s singles: R Downs or M Holroyd v K Porter or S Suffling’s, L Tuck or C Ford v E Wallace.
A high noon deadline of Friday, February 25, is fast approaching for those planning to take part in the Stamford IBC Open Charity tournament scheduled for Saturday, March 15 (9.30 and 10.30am starts).
So far 15 teams have entered the three-bowls triples event in aid of the Sue Ryder charity, which can accommodate up to 24 teams, paying £6 per player competing in four sessions of seven ends, with a £200 prize fund.
Entry forms available from reception desk.