After just losing out in the mixed Top Club at Huntingdon IBC the week before, Spalding Lightning looked to bounce back quickly in another national quarter final last Sunday.
This time it was in the mixed Egham Trophy against Cumbria IBC with all rinks being played at the neutral venue of York & District IBC.
The result was more positive, and saw Lightning gain a comfortable victory by 82 shots to 53 and book their place in the national semi final.
After five or so ends, the game started brightly for Lightning with a six-shot overall lead (20-14) and by ten ends, this had been maintained with the same six-shot gap (36-30).
Once 15 ends had been played, the match was stretched still in Lighting’s direction by 17 shots (61-44) and at 18 ends, the game was nearly over as this lead was now 27 (77-50).
Consequently, the game finished with only one rink left to finish with a 29-shot win for Spalding and the trip back from the long journey north at York made very worthwhile with this successful outcome obtained.
With the club still looking for their maiden national Egham Trophy triumph, the semi final fixture will be against Solihull IBC at a neutral venue yet to be decided on Sunday, March 22.
Rink scores: Graham Smith, Andy Dunham, Chelsea Spencer and Annie Dunham won 25-9 (top rink); Louise Harris, Karen Martin, Stephen Harris and Jordan Philpott won 24-15; Danielle Wild, Julie Hicks, Calvin Leuty and Dominic McVittie won 18-10; Ruby Philpott, Maisie Belding, Martin Spencer and Mathew Orrey lost 15-19.
- Spalding Lightning’s mixed county league team looked to continue good form after two excellent results in their previous fixtures, and took their own journey towards the top end of the county at Louth IBC last Sunday afternoon.
However this match saw a frustrating defeat for the visitors, going down by 65 shots to 92 and collected only one rink and two points from the maximum 14 points available to them.
The winning rink was skipped by James Teesdale, with Jenny Wakefield, Ben Sharp and Carole Nunney who won 18-14.
Their next match is back at home against Scunthorpe IBC on Saturday, February 7.
Rink scores: Jenny Wakefield, Ben Sharp, Carole Nunney and James Teesdale won 18-14; Shelia Chamberlain, George Deaton, Betty Deaton and David Nunney lost 22-26; Christine Williamson, June Taylor, Cliff Lattimer and Ian Stafford lost 12-21; Gill Haydon, Sue Slayven, Tony Westland and Graham Wright lost 13-31.
- The Spalding Lightning men’s county league team had started the season with a 100 per cent record of two wins from two matches, and went for their third tie with this one away against Horncastle IBC last Saturday.
However, much like the mixed team they struggled to get the desired victory and lost by 71 shots to 89 and again collected just one rink and two points from the maximum 14 points available.
The winning rink was skipped by Martin Simpson, with Paul Turner, Gavin Staite and David Nunney who won 23-15.
Captain Dan Mills thanked John Teesdale for stepping in to play at the last minute due to a very late call off.
Their next match is back at home against Louth on Saturday, January 31.
Rink scores: Paul Turner, Gavin Staite, David Nunney and Martin Simpson won 23-15; Robin Roffe, Cliff Lattimer, James Teesdale and Brian Martin lost 20-21; Ian Stafford, John Teesdale, Ian Harwood and Dan Mills lost 20-25; Tony Westland, Graham Hicks, Terry Windsor and Kevin Ekins lost 8-28.
- Congratulations to the Lincolnshire open under 25 inter-county double rink team, winning the second round in a close finish by 34 shots to 32 versus Norfolk CIBA with both rinks being played at Peterborough IBC last Saturday.
The players representing Lincolnshire from Spalding were Owen Aspinall, Aidan Brickles, Max Butters, Nathan Puttrell and Danielle Wild.
The next match will be in the quarter final versus Suffolk CIBA on Sunday, March 1.
