The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
On Sunday, Spalding Lightning played away against Nottingham in the mixed top club.
After the dramatic finish in the Denny Cup only the day before, Spalding Lightning put on a dominant display as they won all disciplines, apart from the fours who drew, which meant that the overall match result was 14-2 in favour of the two-time national top club champions.
Next up in the quarter final is another away game against Acle.
Rink scores: Ladies’ Singles – Chelsea Spencer won 21-18; Men’s Singles – Stephen Harris won 21-18; Pairs – Annie Dunham and Graham Smith won 21-3; Triples – Jean Patterson, Simon Lilley and Jordan Philpott won 17-6; Fours – Ruby Hill, Louise Harris, Martin Spencer and Mathew Orrey drew 11-11.
qOn Saturday, Spalding Lightning progressed through to the quarter final of the Denny Cup with a last 16 win against Nottingham.
The 2022 champions were pushed all the way, and the match reached an exciting conclusion.
Spalding Lightning looked down and out as they were eight behind (60-68) with the two home rinks playing their last end.
Mathew Orrey’s rink picked up two shots which meant that the rink skipped by Jordan Philpott needed to pick up a minimum of six shots to force an extra end or seven shots to win the game.
What happened next was nothing short of unbelievable after the last end had already been killed on two occasions.
Kevin Ekins and Lewis Parnell set up the head really well before Simon Lilley turned the jack round the corner to make four shots to give a glimmer of hope.
The Nottingham number three then took out their nearest bowl to leave Spalding Lightning holding five shots with the skips to play.
Philpott drew both of his bowls in to hold the match winning seven shots with one bowl to come.
The Nottingham skip’s bowl was a fraction heavy which meant that Spalding Lightning won the match by a single shot (69-68) and booked their place in the quarter final where they will play Cumbria on Saturday, January 27.
Rink scores: Home – Kevin Ekins, Lewis Parnell, Simon Lilley and Jordan Philpott won 22-16; Dan Mills, Jack Wells, Graham Smith and Mathew Orrey lost 15-18. Away – Brian Martin, Nick Wilkie, Ean Morton and Tristan Morton won 20-16; Ollie Jeapes, Martin Simpson, Stephen Harris and Martin Spencer lost 12-18.
qOn Saturday, Spalding Indoor Bowls Club travelled away to Grantham for the next fixture in the county mixed league.
A good start saw the away team 24-17 up at five ends which was extended to 53-32 at ten ends and 74-44 by 15 ends before a final 93-55 score line.
Spalding won on all rinks which meant that they secured all 14 match points.
Top winning rink was skipped by Graham Wright, with Tony Westland, Sue Jackson and Maggie Wheatley who won 29-6.
Spalding’s next fixture will be at home against Stamford on Sunday, February 18.
Rink scores: Tony Westland, Sue Jackson, Maggie Wheatley and Graham Wright won 29-6; Jan Sinclair, Tim Rogers, Maisie Belding and Mick Jennings won 23-12; Carole Nunney, George Deaton, Betty Deaton and David Nunney won 20-18; Ann Newbury, Petrine Ault, Mike Taylor and Anthony Cronin won 21-19.
qOn Thursday, Spalding Indoor Bowls Club’s ladies played their fifth game of the season in the Trudy Bates county south division away at Skegness.
Historically, this has always been a tough fixture and this season was no different.
At the halfway stage, Spalding were only ahead on one rink and Skegness were 11 shots ahead on aggregate.
By the 15th end, Skegness had extended their lead to 57-34 however, a spirited fight back by Spalding saw the final score a draw, 64-64 and the match points also shared, 7-7.
Winning on two rinks, top winning rink was skipped by Betty Deaton, with Ann Newbury, Michelle Billingsley and Petrine Ault who won 19-10.
Next up is another away fixture at Boston on February 1.
Rink scores: Ann Newbury, Michelle Billingsley, Petrine Ault and Betty Deaton won 19-10; Sheila Chamberlain, Carole Nunney, Mandy Parkins and Julie Hicks won 14-12; Jan Sinclair, Anita Phillips, Carly Morris and Maisie Belding lost 16-18; Jean Patterson, Sue Slayven, Hazel Tokley and Maggie Wheatley lost 15-24.
