Spalding Indoor Bowls Club emerged victorious in a heavyweight clash against Nottingham in the national Top Club competition on Sunday.
The Castle Sports Complex played host to the mixed top club team clash between two former champions of the event, with Spalding winners in 2015 and Nottingham lifting the trophy in 2018.
In a match littered with quality, the result of the men’s and ladies’ singles were always going to be important.
Fortunately for Spalding, their singles representatives did not disappoint.
Chelsea Tomlin returned a comfortable win in the ladies’ singles, while Stephen Harris also won in the men’s singles.
Winning both singles meant that Spalding only needed to win one out of the three remaining disciplines (pairs, triples and fours) to ensure that they won the overall aggregate.
In the end, the aggregate did not come into play as wins in the triples and fours secured a 12-4 points win and ensured a safe passage through to the third round.
Next up for Spalding are South Forest or Hornsea on Sunday, December 15.
Rink Scores: Ladies’ singles – Chelsea Tomlin won 21-8; Men’s singles – Stephen Harris won 21-12; Pairs – Ruby Hill and Matt Whyers lost 10-11; Triples – Andy Dunham, Annie Dunham and Martin Spencer won 21-6; Fours – Lauren Finbow, Danielle Wild, Graham Smith and Mathew Orrey won 13-6.
- Saturday was a good day for Spalding Indoor Bowls Club’s men’s and women’s teams as they won in the first round of the Denny Plate and second round of the Yetton Trophy respectively.
Starting with the men, they comfortably beat Church Gresley by 47 shots (107-60).
Spalding stamped their authority from the start as they had opened up a 25-14 lead by five ends before it was extended to 50-26 at 10 ends, 80-42 at 15 ends and 98-49 at 18 ends.
They won on three out of the four rinks but the main damage was done by the away sets – especially the group skipped by Kevin Ekins, with Nick Wilkie, Martin Simpson and Andy Dunham. On their way to an incredible 39-13 rink win, they also collected a full house of eight shots on one end.
Next up for Spalding are Stamford on Saturday, December 7.
The women didn’t quite have it all their own way in the second round of the Yetton Trophy against Charnwood – but they did secure what was in the end, a comfortable 26-shot victory (99-73).
The two home rinks certainly did the damage for Spalding as Annie Dunham’s set returned a winning scorecard but an incredible performance by the rink skipped by Chelsea Tomlin, with Jean Patterson, Judy Jackson and Ruby Hill, ensured that Spalding ladies made it through to the third round.
Tomlin’s team also collected a full house of eight shots on their way to a 42-6 rink win.
The two away rinks found it tough at Charnwood, but certainly played their part in the victory.
Next up for Spalding are Barwell, also on December 7.
Rink scores: Men: Home – Harry Mycock, Simon Lilley, Maurice Elding and Martin Spencer won 21-12; Aaron Barnes, Steve Hill, John Needham and Jordan Philpott – lost 15-21. Away – Nick Wilkie, Martin Simpson, Andy Dunham and Kevin Ekins – won 39-13; Brian Martin, Nigel Eagle, Stephen Harris and Graham Smith – won 32-14.
Women: Home – Jean Patterson, Judy Jackson, Ruby Hill and Chelsea Tomlin – won 42-6; Ann Newbury, Barbara Hurst, Lauren Finbow and Annie Dunham – won 29-12. Away – Jan Sinclair, Karen Martin, Pearl O’Brien and Gill Needham – lost 20-25; Freda Lyon, Maisie Belding, Betty Deaton and Julie Hicks – lost 8-30.
- Spalding IBC’s ladies’ team bounced back to winning form in the third match of the Lincolnshire Trudy Bates competition against Skegness.
They won on all rinks but the closest result came from the rink skipped by Barbara Hurst who went into the last end all square.
Hurst’s rink held their nerve to collect two shots and secure a maximum points win (16-0) and 139-74 on aggregate.
The best winning rink on the day was Pat Crampton, Carole Nunney, June Taylor and Julie Hicks.
The win sends Spalding back to the top of the league.
