The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Over the weekend, Ruby Hill, Chelsea Spencer and Annie Dunham represented England in the ladies’ international series at Abbeyview Indoor Bowls Club in Dunfermline, Scotland.
Hill led a rink with Laura Holden (Clevedon), Rebecca Willgress (Norfolk) and skipped by Michelle Coleman (St Neots).
Spencer skipped her own rink with Cassidy Hampton (Exonia), Chloe Brett (Huntingdon) and Anna Chalk (Lakenheath), whilst Dunham also skipped her own rink with Devon Cooper (Hartlepool), Kylie Jenkins (Egham) and team captain Sandy Hazell (Swale).
In the first match of the series, England played Wales on Friday.
England were favourites going into the game but Wales certainly started the better of the two teams and were 39-21 up at five ends.
England narrowed the deficit to 69-56 at ten ends and were only two behind (92-90) by 15 ends.
England went in front for the first time at 18 ends at 105-103 and after a tense final few ends, England won by six shots (124-118).
Spencer and Hill enjoyed rink wins, 23-16 and 19-16 respectively.
Although Dunham’s rink went down 15-29, she certainly contributed to the team win.
In the second session on Friday, Scotland beat Ireland 143-88.
On Saturday morning, England played Ireland and fortunately, the match was won in a much more comfortable fashion.
England stamped their authority from the outset and were 27-19 up at five ends.
The lead was extended to 68-36 at ten ends, 99-54 at 15 ends and 121-66 at 18 ends.
England eventually won comfortably, 137-78.
Spencer (24-9), Dunham (29-14) and Hill (18-9) all enjoyed rink wins.
In the second session on Saturday, Scotland beat Wales 153-86 which set up a winner-takes-all clash between the two auld enemies on Sunday.
Before the main event, Wales beat Ireland 117-94 which warmed up the crowd who were treated to a classic encounter between England and Scotland.
The home team, who were also defending champions, started the better of the two teams and were 36-17 up at five ends.
England battled hard and were only 54-46 at ten ends and 87-82 behind at 15 ends.
Scotland extended the lead to 107-95 at 18 ends but England were not willing to give up without a fight and won the final three ends 22-7 to win the match by three shots, 117-114.
Spencer enjoyed another rink win (21-13) to come home with three rink wins from three, Dunham’s rink won 23-18 and although Hill’s rink lost 10-22, all members of the team played their part in an epic victory.
England regained the Clara Johns Trophy after Scotland won in Belfast last time out.
To top off an already amazing weekend, Hill was voted England’s Player of the Series.
qOn Saturday, Spalding Indoor Bowls Club hosted Boston A in the men’s county league.
Spalding won on two rinks and lost on two but won the overall match by nine shots, 82-73 and 10-4 on match points.
The top winning rink was skipped by Brian Martin, with Jack Wells, Paul Turner and James Teesdale who won 28-13.
Rink scores: Jack Wells, Paul Turner, James Teesdale and Brian Martin – won 28-13; Eric Wakefield, George Almey, Gavin Staite and Ian Stafford – won 22-14; Kevin Ekins, Oliver Stanley, Robin Roffe and Dan Mills – lost 17-21; Tony Westland, Tim Rogers, Anthony Cronin and David Nunney – lost 15-25.
