Dawes hits 50 mark but Scots triumph

Spalding Indoor Bowls Club players Stephen Harris, Graham Smith and Mark Dawes have been representing England in the men’s international series at Abbeyview Indoor Bowls Club in Dunfermline.
Dawes reached his 50-cap milestone and helped the team to runners-up position, pipped by the Auld Enemy for top spot.
It took Dawes 17 years to reach his half-century.
Harris led a rink with newly crowned British Isles singles champion Martin Puckett (Dorchester), Les Gillett (Melton) and skipped by Greg Harlow (City of Ely). Dawes skipped his own rink with new cap, Jonny Forcer (Hartlepool) and Graham and Robert Paxton (Exonia).
England were favourites going into the opening game against Wales, having won a record seven consecutive men’s international series. That proved correct as England went 43-17 ahead after five ends. The scores were 75-30 and 107-53 at ten and 15 ends respectively with England eventually winning by 55 shots (146-91). Smith and Dawes enjoyed a 29-15 rink win but Harris’ rink lost narrowly 20-22. In the second session of the day, Scotland beat Ireland 125-102.
England played a spirited Ireland team on St Patrick’s Day and it was the Irish who started the better. They were seven shots ahead after five ends before England showed their class across the six rinks to go 69-46 up at ten ends, 96-66 up at 15 and 112-85 after 18 ends, eventually winning by 26 shots (126-100).
England won on five of the six rinks with Smith and Dawes winning 21-13 and Harris’ rink bouncing back well to win 21-13.
In the second session, Scotland beat Wales 167-94 to set up a winner-takes-all clash between England and Scotland.
Before that clash, Ireland beat Wales 114-112.
The home crowd were in fine voice, which created an electric atmosphere for a match that was closely contested. England took a narrow lead at five ends (24-22) but Scotland bounced back well and were 54-48 up at ten ends, extended to 88-74 after 15.
England showed their fighting qualities and the deficit was reduced to just two shots at one stage before Scotland pulled away to win by 15 shots, 119-104.
Harris’ rink won 21-15 against Alex Marshall but Smith and Dawes’ rink went down 9-20 as Scotland stopped England’s record run to lift the Hilton Trophy for the first time since 2014.
p Spalding Indoor Bowls Club ladies had a good win in their final Trudy Bates League fixture of the season at home to Skegness.
Spalding won on all rinks and won the aggregate by 63 shots (113-50), which meant they secured all 14 available match points.
The top winning rink was skipped by Maggie Wheatley, with Jean Patterson, Petrine Ault and Freda Huggins. They won 32-9.
The win put Spalding 36 points ahead of Boston at the top of the County South division and in a good position to qualify for the county final however, Spalding have played all their fixtures and Boston still have three to play – home and away against Stamford and at Grantham.
Rink scores:
Jean Patterson, Petrine Ault, Freda Huggins and Maggie Wheatley – won 32-9.
Ann Newbury, Sue Slayven, Michelle Billingsley and Betty Deaton – won 33-14.
Freda Lyon, Jan Sinclair, Christine Jackson and Maisie Belding – won 26-12.
Sheila Chamberlain, Carole Nunney, Mandy Parkin and Julie Hicks – won 22-15.