After losing out on the last end of the national final at Royal Leamington Spa last season, Royal Mail Cart BC’s National Open Bowls England Club Two Fours team were looking to start another run and go one better.
They had a tricky preliminary round fixture at Shires BC, in north Lincolnshire.
After five ends, the home team had a seven-shot lead (14-7), however, the Spalding players stormed back to go 21-18 ahead after 10 ends played across the two rinks. At the 15-end mark, Mail Cart remained one shot ahead (27-26) with the game reaching the 18-end conclusion.
After a tense finish, which came down to the final end, Mail Cart managed to hang on and win 32-29 to proceed to a first round proper match at Stamford’s Blackstones BC on Bank Holiday Monday.
Rink scores: Steve Hill, Andy Dunham, Martin Spencer, Dominic McVittie won 19-16; Dan Mills, Kevin Ekins, Ashley Caress, Jordan Philpott drew 13-13.
Local league fixtures (played under the Spalding & District banner) were played across Tuesday and Thursday nights as well as Friday afternoons and nights.
Royal Mail Cart A team looked to bounce back from an opening day defeat in Division Two, now back at home, against Moulton Harrox B. In a tight match, which ended up being tied 51-51 on shots, the aggregate points were shared 2-2 but, because Moulton won two rinks to Mail Cart’s one, the opposition won 6-4 overall.
The winning rink was skipped by George Richardson, with John Breed and Graham Astley, who won 20-12.
Rink scores: John Breed, Graham Astley, George Richardson won 20-12; Alan Shakespeare, Frank Lawson, Ian
Brickles lost 19-20; Elaine Mycock, Graham Brickles, Rob Lacey lost 12-19.
Royal Mail Cart B started in Division One as defending champions at home to Castle BC. A strong start sent them on the way to a 59-42 win, collecting the maximum 10 points.
The team won on all three rinks, with the top winning rink skipped by Phil Cooke, with Sally Humphries and Steve Hill who won 25-15.
Rink scores: Sally Humphries, Steve Hill, Phil Cooke won 25-15; Ben Sharp, Graham Jackson, Paul Turner won 17-13; Sue Jackson, Mel Mashford, Mick Dolton won 17-14.
The Thursday Night League sees both Mail Cart teams in the 12 players division. The A team as defending champions began their season at home against Carter’s Park BC and the result was never in doubt with an excellent 125-50 victory to gain five points from the maximum six available.
Winning on three of the four rinks, the top rink was skipped by Martin Simpson, with Tracy Philpott and Julie Allen, who won 36-8.
Rink scores: Tracy Philpott, Julie Allen, Martin Simpson won 36-8; Mel Mashford, Ben Sharp, Phil Cooke won 35-8; Mick Dolton, Aidan Brickles, Dan Mills won 36-11; Sally Humphries, Stuart Callaby, Steve Hill lost 18-23.
The B team lost 107-55 at Castle BC, gaining just one rink and a single point.
The winning rink was skipped by Paul Turner, with Judith Lacey and George Richardson, who won 26-15.
Rink scores: Judith Lacey, George Richardson, Paul Turner won 26-15; John Breed, Graham Astley, Joe Mellon lost 16-22; Alan Shakespeare, Sue Jackson, Graham Jackson lost 10-31; Elaine Mycock, Graham Brickles, Rob Lacey lost 3-39.
The Friday Afternoon League has reverted to being played all at one venue each week. The first club to host in Division One was Gosberton BC.
The Mail Cart A team of Stuart Callaby, George Richardson and Paul Turner succeed by 23 shots to 16 to collect both points against the hosts, whereas the B team’s Aidan Brickles, Graham Astley and new member Joe Mellon won 23-6 against Carter’s Park A to get their first two points.
The next set of fixtures are due to be played on Friday, with the Mail Cart being the host club and sees the A and the B teams play against each other in what will be a competitive game for bragging rights.
The Friday Night League team started their campaign at Moulton Harrox and won 67-50 to collect four out of five points after winning on two of the three rinks.
The top rink was skipped by Aidan Brickles, with Ian Brickles and John Breed, who won 27-10. Their next match is at home to Castle BC on Friday.
Rink scores: Ian Brickles, John Breed, Aidan Brickles won 27-10; Graham Astley, Graham Brickles, Rob Lacey won 27-18; Colin Wilson, Judith Lacey, George Richardson lost 13-22.
The Lincolnshire men’s county Balcomb Trophy team lost their national preliminary round fixture by three shots (44-41) over three disciplines of pairs, triples and fours against Northamptonshire BA at Leicester BC.
Representing Lincolnshire from Royal Mail Cart were Ashley Caress, Dominic McVittie, Jordan Philpott and captain/manager Martin Spencer.
☐ Week two of the Sutton Bridge Banks Rose Bowl League saw home wins for Black Cats (4-2, 62-42) against Sutton Bridge, and Newton (also 4-2, 68-53) versus March Town.
Gorefield went down 3½-2½ at home to Emneth (65-63).
