Last bowl from Harris proves a match-winner

Spalding Lightning are through to the last 16 of the mixed Top Club competition after beating a Huntingdon team, boasting international players.
Annie Dunham won in the ladies’ singles but the overall match was in the balance before Stephen Harris won the men’s singles with his last bowl. That left Lightning needing one win from the last three disciplines and an aggregate win to progress to the next round. Wins in the pairs and fours ensured a safe passage and a 12-4 match win.
Rink scores – Ladies’ singles: Annie Dunham won 21-13; Men’s singles: Stephen Harris won 21-20; Pairs: Chelsea Spencer and Dominic McVittie won 18-15; Triples: Jean Patterson, Graham Smith and Jordan Philpott lost 13-22; Fours: Ruby Hill, Louise Harris, Martin Spencer and Mathew Orrey won 15-12.
Spalding Indoor BC remain unbeaten in the South Division of the County Mixed League after a home win against Grantham.
Spalding dominated the second half to win by 35 shots, 94-59. Three rink wins and a narrow defeat saw Spalding also win 12-2 on match points.
The top winning rink was skipped by David Nunney, with Carole Nunney, George Deaton and Betty Deaton, who won 27-10.
Rink scores – Carole Nunney, George Deaton, Betty Deaton and David Nunney won 27-10; Gill Haydon, Petrine Ault, Mike Taylor and Anthony Cronin won 24-11; Jan Sinclair, Tim Rogers, Maisie Belding and Mick Jennings won 25-19; Tony Westland, Sue Slayven, Maggie Wheatley and Graham Wright lost 18-19.
Spalding will be well represented at the English Indoor Bowling Association trials at Nottingham IBC.
Senior men: Stephen Harris, Graham Smith and Dominic McVittie. Senior women – Ruby Hill, Chelsea Spencer and Annie Dunham. U25 men and mixed U18 – Ollie Jeapes. U25 women – Ruby Hill.
Against Boston in the Denny Cup, Spalding kept their noses in front in a tight game before a strong finish by the 2021 champions saw them win 85-68. The difference was the rinks skipped by Graham Smith at home and Dominic McVittie away, who won 29-15 and 22-8 respectively.
Rink scores – Home: Dan Mills, Jack Wells, Stephen Harris and Graham Smith won 29-15; Kevin Ekins, Ollie Jeapes, Simon Lilley and Jordan Philpott lost 20-22. Away: Lewis Parnell, Martin Simpson, Martin Spencer and Dominic McVittie won 22-8; Brian Martin, Nick Wilkie, Ean Morton and Tristan Morton lost 14-23.
In the Yetton Trophy, Spalding trailed 50-47 after 15 ends but hit back to win by 14 shots, 77-63. The damage was done at home by rinks skipped by Chelsea Spencer and Ruby Hill.
Rink scores – Home: Jean Patterson, Petrine Ault, Tracy Philpott and Ruby Hill won 29-10; Carole Nunney, Mandy Parkin, Sandra Hammond and Chelsea Spencer won 23-7. Away: Ann Newbury, Michelle Billingsley, Betty Deaton and Julie Hicks lost 10-20; Jan Sinclair, Sue Slayven, Maggie Wheatley and Maisie Belding lost 15-26.
Earlier in the month, Spalding Lightning had a dominant display against Grantham in the Egham Trophy, winning on all rinks, topped by Annie Dunham’s rink of Dan Mills, Maggie Wheatley and Kevin Ekins’ impressive 36-9 win.
Spalding IBC won a close Men’s County League match at Boston B by six shots, 78-72, but in the Over 60 County League went down to South Division leaders Lincoln by 18 shots, 64-82.
An exciting Over 60 Double Rink match against Stamford went down to the last end with Spalding prevailing by a single shot, 32-31.
Spalding went down
119-113 in a friendly at Melton Mowbray.