Spalding Lightning started their competitive life at their new temporary bowls green at Long Sutton Indoor Bowls Club with a narrow 79-75 victory versus a strong Boston IBC in the first round of the men’s national Denny Cup last Saturday.
After five ends, Lightning had a lead by 26-15 and by ten ends, this was 43-33. When the game reached 15 ends, they remained 14 shots ahead (65-51).
As the match came to a conclusion, Boston started to fight back but they could not quite make up the ground to get level, Lightning holding on to a four-shot win after all four rinks home and away had completed their 21 ends.
Special congratulations go to Max Butters who made his debut for the Denny team, as well as Calvin Leuty and Rob Aves who returned to play for the side after a few years out.
Next up in the competition they have won nationally twice in recent years comes Stamford IBC on November 15.
Rink scores: Home – Lewis Parnell, Dale Parnell, Calvin Leuty and Jordan Philpott won 28-17 (top rink) and Dan Mills, Martin Simpson, Rob Aves and Martin Spencer lost 15-17; Away – Graham Smith, Max Butters, Andy Dunham and Dominic McVittie won 24-21 and Brian Martin, Owen Aspinall, Simon Lilley and Stephen Harris lost 12-20.
* Spalding Lightning then continued their successful weekend with a dominant win against Grantham IBC in the first round of the national mixed Egham Trophy, 85 shots to 38.
When the first five ends were completed, Lightning had a strong 15-shot lead at 26-11 and after ten ends, this had increased even further to 34 shots (54-20).
At approximately 15 ends both home and away, the lead had stretched again to the final 47-shot victory when Grantham conceded the match to Lightning.
The next round of the competition will be against Boston IBC on November 16.
Rink scores: Home – Jean Patterson, Andy Dunham, Chelsea Spencer and Dominic McVittie won 23-11 and Graham Smith, Karen Martin, Annie Dunham and Martin Spencer drew 12-12; Away – Ruby Philpott, Tracy Philpott, Stephen Harris and Mathew Orrey won 30-6 (top rink) and Danielle Wild, Louise Harris, Simon Lilley and Jordan Philpott won 20-9.
* Lightning made it three wins from three at the weekend, with a superb 87-51 (14 points to 0) victory this time at home against Lincoln IBC A in their second fixture of the mixed County League Division One.
After losing out in their first fixture away versus Sleaford IBC by 19 shots (69-88) last month, Spalding were looking to bounce back and did this in comprehensive style.
They won all four rinks earning the maximum available 14 match points.
The top winning rink was skipped by Ian Stafford, ably assisted by George Deaton, Sue Slayven and Betty Deaton who won 23-10.
Their next match is against Boston IBC away on November 29.
Rink scores: June Taylor, Maisie Belding, Mike Taylor and Anthony Cronin won 20-15; George Deaton, Sue Slayven, Betty Deaton and Ian Stafford won 23-10; Gill Haydon, Jenny Wakefield, Robin Roffe and Tony Westland won 25-15; Ann Newbury, Paul Turner, Maggie Wheatley and Rob West won 19-11.
* Spalding Lightning had played their first match at their temporary home venue in the final weekend of October, with a first friendly of the season versus the Lincs VPs.
In a well contested game, the visitors managed to win in the end by 18 shots (50-68).
The top winning rink for Spalding was skipped by Lily Drawbridge, with Dave Murray, Dave Green and Cliff Lattimer who won 18-12.
The friendlies maintain an important part of the club, as they provide an opening for both new bowlers and less competitive bowlers to enjoy matches against teams from this county and the surrounding areas.
The next friendly is at home against Grantham IBC on Sunday (November 9).
* Spalding Lightning’s mixed top club team were in action on the last Sunday in October and they enjoyed a perfect start to this year’s campaign with a first round win in all disciplines away at Stamford IBC that saw them collect all available 16 match points (16-0).
The team are looking for their fourth national title in this competition and started well by winning both singles matches, the pairs, triples and fours rink. The next match is at Sleaford IBC on Sunday (November 9).
Rink scores: Ladies’ singles – Chelsea Spencer won 21-15; Men’s singles – Graham Smith won 21-20; Pairs – Annie Dunham and Dominic McVittie won 24-7; Triples – Danielle Wild, Stephen Harris and Jordan Philpott won 23-15; Fours – Ruby Philpott, Louise Harris, Martin Spencer and Mathew Orrey won 19-6.
* Other earlier results played towards the beginning of October:
The ladies Trudy Bates team commenced their season away versus Stamford IBC and lost by seven shots (71-78).
They won two and lost two rinks, the top winning rink being skipped by Maisie Belding, with Jan Sinclair, Gill Haydon and June Taylor who won 20-17.
Their next match is at home against Boston IBC on November 13.
* The national under-30 team started well in the first round in the open inter-club double rink against Melton IBC with a 20-shot win (45-25). The home rink (played at Stamford IBC as the new venue was not ready) of Dan Mills,
Owen Aspinall and Stephen Harris covered the aggregate victory, winning 28 shots to eight and the away rink of
Danielle Wild, Ruby Philpott and Jordan Philpott drew 17-17.
The next round is against Lincoln IBC on Saturday (November 8).
* Congratulations to the Lincolnshire men’s county Liberty Trophy team, winning the first round by 20 shots (124-104) versus Leicestershire CIBA at Grantham IBC on October 25.
The players representing Lincolnshire from Spalding were Kevin Ekins, Stephen Harris, Simon Lilley, Dominic McVittie, Dan Mills, Jordan Philpott, Martin Spencer and the captain/manager, Graham Smith. The next round is against Yorkshire CIBA on January 10 at a venue yet to be decided.
* Congratulations and good luck to our England international trialists, with the trials taking place at Northampton IBC over the weekend of November 29 and 30.
They are: Senior Men – Dominic McVittie, Stephen Harris and Jordan Philpott; Senior Women – Annie Dunham, Ruby Philpott and Chelsea Spencer; Under 25 Men – Owen Aspinall; Under 25 Women – Danielle Wild.
In addition, Aspinall has been selected to attend the England U18s Squad Day at St Neots on Sunday (November 9).
