The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Spalding side Royal Mail Cart Bowls Club are celebrating after becoming champions of Lincolnshire for the first time since 1999.
After winning the Spalding and District EBA League with two games to spare, Mail Cart represented the section at Grantham Bowls Club against the three other league champions in the county.
The South Holland aces defeated Boston’s Burton House in a fantastic final that went right down to the wire.
In the semi-final, Royal Mail Cart played against St Giles in a very tight game.
The rink of Steve Hill, Chelsea Tomlin, Simon Lilley and Graham Smith returned a winning scorecard of 19-11, while the set of Mick Dolton, Stuart Callaby, Pete Horsfield and Martin Simpson also returned 17-12 win.
The rink skipped by Ashley Caress, with Danielle Wild, Trevor Bowden and Martin Spencer went into the last end 27-14 down, meaning that the game was level overall and the semi-final was to be decided on the final end of the match.
St Giles laid shot for the majority of the end, but a perfect bowl by Caress trailed the jack round the corner to a Royal Mail Cart bowl. That made it tough for the St Giles skip – and he just missed out with his last bowl, meaning that Mail Cart secured their place into the final by one shot.
HAPPY CAPTAIN: Martin Spencer (left).
The other semi-final was won by Burton House, who comfortably dispatched Blossom Way (Immingham).
The final started very well for Mail Cart, who found themselves as many as 15 shots up at the half way stage. However, a second half comeback by Burton House brought them back to within two shots with only a handful of ends left to play.
The rink skipped by Simpson was the first to complete their 18 ends, winning 22-9.
Caress’ rink went into their last end 17-16 down, while Smith’s rink were 16-9 down with two ends to play – meaning that Mail Cart were five shots up.
The set led by Caress picked up a good four on their final end to win 20-17 and Smith played a perfect take out to also collect four shots, which put Royal Mail Cart an unassailable 13 shots in front with only one end to play when Burton House shook hands.
Captain Spencer said: “I am very proud to win the county title as captain and thank my players for their hard work and determination throughout the season.
“It is a great way to end the season and we will look forward to trying to defend it next season.”
