Three qualifiers from Spalding Indoor Bowls Club played in the final stages of the county sets singles at Sleaford on Saturday.
The format consists of two sets of seven ends and a three end tie break if the scores are tied at one set all.
England internationals, Martin Spencer and Graham Smith had exceptionally good days as they progressed to the semi-finals.
In the last 32, Spencer played against Paul Oke from the host club however, Spencer played well to secure a straight sets victory 2-0 (9-1, 7-5).
A further two comfortable straight sets wins followed for Spencer against Dennis Skayman from Lincoln (11-3, 7-3) and Alan Dent Snr from Louth (8-3, 7-2) to secure a safe passage through to the semi-finals.
Smith, the defending champion in this event, found his back against the ropes against Stamford’s Mike Ramsden.
After drawing the first set, a count of three on the last end, won Smith the second set by a single shot and the match 1.5-0.5 (8-8, 7-6).
Next up for Smith was Jake Meakins from Grantham, who despite losing the first set to Smith, offered some resistance in the second set but Smith held his nerve to tie the set and win the match 1.5-0.5 (10-1, 7-7).
The final match of the day for Smith caused him few problems as he beat Andrew Cave from Louth in straight sets (9-2, 5-3) to secure his place in the semi-finals.
In the semi-final, Smith will play Sleaford’s Paul Roberts whilst Spencer will play Lincoln’s Sam Ashton.
County semi-finals day will be held at Horncastle on Sunday, March 30.
- Spalding IBC’s over-60s ladies double rink team suffered a disappointing defeat against Carlton in the national last 16.
In a format which is played one rink at home and one away – and a competition which Spalding won back in the 2012/2013 season – the home rink skipped by Sylvia
Wade, with Ann Newberry, Judy Jackson and Barbara Hurst, managed a 17-13 win, picking up four shots on the final end.
However, the away rink skipped by Julie Hicks, with Freda Lyon, Maisie Belding and Betty Deaton, found things tough away from home, especially in the second half, and eventually lost on their rink 7-21, meaning that overall, Spalding went down 24-34.
- Spalding IBC’s over-60s team played their ninth game of the season away at Louth.
Spalding started badly as they struggled to adapt to the away rinks and after just five ends, had lost 37 shots and were winning on only one rink.
Spalding’s best winning rink kept their noses in front and finished strongly winning by a comfortable margin of 20 shots to 12.
This rink was skipped by Roger Perkins, with Tony Westland, David Head and Peter Bendell.
One other Spalding quartet skipped by Chris Stagles, with Colin Wilson, Rob West and Derek Overton, found themselves 5-13 down at the half way stage however, managed to turn things around to win their rink 19-18, the winning shot gained on the last end.
The final result was 14-4 to Louth and 119-67 on aggregate.
Captains for the day were Graham Hicks and David Lunn, who thanked David Head for playing at such short notice.
