Spalding Lightning were well represented at Boston Indoor Bowls Club for the men’s and mixed county semi-finals day and they will be again on county finals day at Sleaford on Sunday, April 27.
Of eight last-four encounters, Spalding chalked up eight victories, albeit two were against their own clubmates.
Semi-final results – Singles: Dominic McVittie 21 Sam Ashton (Lincoln) 10.
Singles: Dan Mills 21 Chris Hanslip (Louth) 15.
Sets singles: Jordan Philpott 2 John Nott (Lincoln) 0.
Over 60 singles: Martin Simpson 21 Trevor Bannister (Sleaford) 18.
Pairs: Graham Smith and Jordan Philpott 7 Simon Lilley and Stephen Harris 18.
Mixed pairs: Jean Patterson and Dominic McVittie 17 Helen Quirke and David Bristow (Sleaford) 15.
Fours – Dan Mills, Brian Martin, Ean Morton and Tristan Morton 19 Mark Freemantle, Dan Stanley, Richard Benjamin and Simon Reeson (Louth) 14 and Graham Smith, Kevin Ekins, Simon Lilley and Jordan Philpott 13 Stephen Harris, Martin Spencer, Mathew Orrey and Dominic McVittie 14.
Due to McVittie and Philpott being in four events, the triples semi-final between Graham Smith, Simon Lilley and Philpott and Martin Spencer, Mathew Orrey and McVittie will be played at a future date.
l Spalding players were in action at Llanelli Indoor Bowls Club in Wales for the women’s and men’s international series and championships.
Ruby Philpott, Chelsea Spencer and Annie Dunham played for England in the series against Ireland, Scotland and the hosts. Philpott and Spencer played in the same rink at lead and skip respectively, with Chloe Brett and Anna Noble, while Dunham skipped her own rink with Emma Cooper, Sandy Hazell and Holly Chaytor.
England started strongly against Wales, winning on five of the six rinks and 137-94 on aggregate. They followed this up the next day against Ireland with a comprehensive all rinks and 162-93 win. Philpott and Spencer’s rink enjoyed 32-11 and 23-12 rink wins, while Dunham’s rink recorded 25-20 and 31-18 rink wins.
Although Scotland beat Ireland, they were beaten by a single shot against Wales, which meant England could afford to lose by 14 shots and still win the series. However, the Scots were clearly up for the challenge and opened a 85-71 lead but the England women showed their battling qualities to win the match 112-103 and regain the Clara Johns Trophy.
Philpott and Spencer’s rink won 21-20, with Dunham’s rink also one-shot victors, 17-16.
In the men’s singles, Spalding’s Dominic McVittie beat Ireland’s Adam McKeown 21-11 to set up a final against Welshman Ross Owen. McVittie took an early 5-1 lead but, with the home crowd behind him, Owen got a foothold, eventually winning 21-14.
Spalding’s Stephen Harris was selected to lead a rink with Ian Lesley, James Hampton and Rob Paxton. England were defending champions but did not start the series well as they lost 99-98 against Wales, despite Harris’ rink winning a close match 16-14.
England bounced back against Ireland with five of the five rinks triumphant and overall 139-93. Harris’ rink were 25-14 victors.
With Scotland beating Ireland and Wales, England needed to beat Scotland by 13 shots to win the series and retain the Hilton Trophy.
Changes were made to the England team with McVittie recalled to playing at number three to Sam Tolchard, with Ryan Whitlock and new cap Mike Titcombe. Ian Lesley had to drop out due to illness so Perry Martin went in at two in the rink Harris was leading.
Unfortunately, Scotland proved too strong, winning 104-97. McVittie’s rink lost 20-15 against Darren Burnett, while Harris’ rink went down 22-13 against Stewart Anderson. Wales beat Ireland to leave England third overall.
l The British Isles Championships, also at Llanelli, saw last season’s champions from each country battling it out.
Philpott, Spencer and Dunham found the Welsh triple of Kelly and Kerry Packwood and Amy Williams too strong as they lost a highly competitive match 19-13. The Welsh team went on to beat Scotland in the final.
l Spalding Lightning took on Avon Valley at Nottingham IBC in the Yetton Plate semi-final. The lead changed on several occasions but Avon Valley finished the stronger to win by 13 shots (86-73).
Lightning did manage one winning rink, skipped by Maisie Belding with Ann Newbury, Jan Sinclair and Carly Morris, who won 27-8.
Rink scores: Ann Newbury, Jan Sinclair, Carly Morris and Maisie Belding won 27-8; Danielle Wild, Carole Nunney, Betty Deaton and Chelsea Spencer lost 23-20; Maggie Wheatley, Trish Stafford, Mandy Parkins and Julie Hicks lost 27-16; Jean Patterson, Petrine Ault, Tracy Philpott and Karen Martin lost 28-10.
l Men’s and ladies club president Kevin Ekins and Julie Hicks thanked everyone who participated in the President’s Day match, which was won by the men’s team. It saw £244.80 raised for Cancer Research, the club’s charity of the year.
Thanks were expressed to Graham, Marion, Carole and David in the kitchen and those who helped clear away, as well as those who made cakes and brought raffle prizes.
