Lightning book into two national semi-finals

On Sunday, Spalding Lightning made it through to their second national semi-final of the weekend, this time in the mixed top club.
Spalding Lightning progressed through the quarter final with an away win at Acle.
With wins in the ladies’ singles, pairs, triples and fours, Spalding Lightning won 14-2 and booked their place in the semi-final where they will play Hartlepool on Saturday, March 23 at the national championships at Nottingham IBC.
Rink scores: Ladies’ singles – Chelsea Spencer won 21-17, men’s singles – Stephen Harris lost 15-21, pairs – Annie Dunham and Dominic McVittie won 17-14, triples – Jean Patterson, Graham Smith and Jordan Philpott won 19-12, fours – Ruby Hill, Louise Harris, Martin Spencer and Mathew Orrey won 26-7.
qOn Sunday, Spalding Indoor Bowls Club enjoyed a friendly fixture at home against Terrington St Clement.
Spalding proved to be too strong from the outset and won 151-57.
Top winning rink was skipped by Peter Ridley, with Sue Lovett and Dee Brinkman who won 36-6.
qOn Saturday, Spalding Lightning progressed to the semi-final of the Denny Cup with a dramatic quarter final win against a strong Cumbria team which included former world indoor singles champion Mark Dawes and several former internationals.
The match was nip and tuck for a long time but it looked to be going Cumbria’s way as they opened up a ten shot lead at about 18 ends.
Spalding Lightning were not willing to give up without a fight and with one rink left playing the last end, Cumbria were two shots ahead (74-76).
The main damage was done by the rinks skipped by Dominic McVittie and Jordan Philpott who won 25-11 and 22-8 respectively but the last end drama was played out by Mathew Orrey’s rink.
With the skips left to play, Cumbria laid one but Orrey had his own agenda as he trailed the jack two feet to make three shots and a match winning position.
With Cumbria’s Stuart Airey left to play his last bowl, Spalding Lightning laid four shots.
Airey looked good but got wrecked by a short bowl as Spalding Lightning scored three shots, won the match by a single shot (77-76) and booked their place in the semi-final.
In the semi-final, Spalding Lightning will play Falcon on Saturday, February 10 at a neutral venue yet to be decided.
Rink scores: Stephen Harris, Martin Simpson, Martin Spencer and Dominic McVittie won 25-11, Kevin Ekins, Lewis Parnell, Simon Lilley and Jordan Philpott won 22-8, Dan Mills, Ollie Jeapes, Graham Smith and Mathew Orrey lost 20-23, Brian Martin, Nick Wilkie, Ean Morton and Tristan Morton lost 10-34.
qOn Thursday, Spalding Indoor Bowls Club’s tough season in the men’s over 60s county league continued with a home defeat against Stamford.
The away side won on three out of the four rinks and by 24 shots on aggregate (89-65).
Spalding did manage one winning rink which was skipped by David Nunney, with Bill Hodges, Roger Billingsley and Ian Harwood who won 22-18.
Rink scores: Bill Hodges, Roger Billingsley, Ian Harwood and David Nunney won 22-18, Mick Dolton, Paul Turner, Rob West and Graham Wright lost 16-22, Dave Amess, Robin Roffe, Gavin Staite and Chris Warboys lost 16-24, Tony Westland, Neil Strickson, Ian Stafford and Terry Windsor lost 11-25.