Royal Mail Cart BC national men’s Bowls England Top Club team came away from regular county rivals Cleethorpes with a 4-1 victory in the semi-final – a third victory in a row on the road.
In the two-bowl singles, Ben Wilson lost to Middleton Cup player Alan Dent Jr by eight shots over 21 ends (9-17) but in a tight four-bowl singles Martin Spencer beat fellow county player Dave Cullum 21-17.
In the other disciplines of pairs, triples and fours, Mail Cart bowlers were largely in control on their way to a 4-1 win and an area final against Langwith Junction, from Shirebrook, Nottinghamshire, at a neutral venue.
Rink scores: Two-bowl singles, Ben Wilson lost 9-17; Four-bowl singles, Martin Spencer won 21-17; Pairs, Chris Mycock, Jordan Philpott won 21–10; Triples, Dan Mills, Kevin Ekins, Ashley Caress won 15-13; Fours, Steve Hill, Phil Cooke, Graham Smith, Dominic McVittie won 23-7.
A club derby in the Section 4 EBA fours League saw Royal Mail Cart B fail to end Royal Mail Cart A’s unbeaten record, going down 76-26 to concede the maximum eight points available
The A team’s top rink won 31-6 and was skipped by club captain Jordan Philpott, with Sally Humphries, Paul Caress and Tracy Philpott.
Rink scores (B team players first): Sue Jackson, Graham Astley, Nigel Brown, Graham Jackson lost to Steve Hill, John Allen, Phil Cooke, Martin Spencer 12-15; John Breed, Judith Lacey, Colin Wilson, Rob Lacey lost to Dan Mills, Ben Sharp, Chris Mycock, Martin Simpson 8-30; Charlie Thurston, Stuart Callaby, Kiera Thurston, Andrew Thurston lost to Sally Humphries, Paul Caress, Tracy Philpott, Jordan Philpott 6-31.
In Division Two, Royal Mail Cart A picked up their second win of the season by beating Castle BC B 58-50 to collect eight of the 10 points available.
The top rink was skipped by Ian Brickles, with Alan Shakespeare and Joy Hardacre and won 23-10.
Other rink scores: Graham Brickles, John Breed, George Richardson won 18-13; Malcolm Robinson, Graham Astley, Rob Lacey lost 17-27.
Royal Mail Cart B’s EBA triples team had started their season well with six wins from seven matches in Division One and added another with a 64-39 success at Castle BC A for eight points, winning on two rinks.
The top rink was skipped by Dan Mills, with Stuart Callaby and Graham Jackson, who won 28-9.
Other rink scores: Mel Mashford, Ben Sharp, Mick Dolton won 20-8; Sue Jackson, Charlie Thursto, Andrew Thurston lost 16-22.
In the Thursday Night League, the A team had a revenge match at home to Spalding Town, having lost the reverse fixture two weeks earlier. They did so in style, winning 85 shots to 58 to gain five out of six points.
Winning on three of the four rinks, the top rink was skipped by Martin Simpson, with Ben Sharp and Julie Allen, who won 32-10.
Other rink scores: Paul Caress, Nigel Brown, Mick Dolton won 22-17; Mel Mashford, Tracy Philpott, Phil Cooke won 17-14; Sally Humphries, Stuart Callaby, Chris Mycock lost 14-17.
The Friday Afternoon League saw Mail Cart as host club in Division One. The A team rink of Stuart Callaby, George Richardson and Martin Simpson sneaked a close 19-18 win against Gosberton A to collect two points.
The top-of-the-table B team rink of Ian Brickles, Alan Shakespeare and Joe Mellon enjoyed a huge 44-5 win against Carters Park A.
Royal Mail Cart’s Friday Night League team had a closely fought match at Crowland Crows but just lost out by 47 shots to 53. One winning rink and one drawn rink gave them one-and-half points from the five available.
The winning rink was skipped by Joe Mellon, with John Breed and Colin Wilson, who won 20-18.
Other rink scores: Ian Brickles, George Richardson, Aidan Brickles drew 14-14; Sue Jackson, Graham Brickles, Graham Jackson lost 13-19.
After winning the club singles last season, reigning England outdoor men’s captain Dominic McVittie participated in the Bowls England men’s Champion of Champions event.
After defeating Mark Dennis (Moulton Harrox), Christopher Davidson (Bourne Town), Lewis Fiveash-Parnell (Carters Park) and Oliver Gedney (Burton House), he took on last season’s national runner-up Chris Hanslip (Blossom Way) in the regional final at Cleethorpes but lost 21-15.
The last stages of the Bowls Lincolnshire County Secretaries Singles took place at Dunholme St Giles and in his first year as Mail Cart club secretary Dam Mills beat Mark Dennis (Moulton Harrox) in the section final. He then saw off Andrew Arundel from Waltham Park on a tricky rink 21-9 in the semi-final.
The final proved to be a step too far for Mills though, as he lost 21-15 to Kris Moore from Sleaford Town.
☐ Sutton Bridge Banks Rose Bowl League, Week 9: March Town 6 Black Cats 0 (52-42), Newton 4½ Parson Dove 1½ (60-49).
P W L F A Ps
March Tn 7 6 1 418 340 32.5
Newton 7 5 2 437 420 26.5
Emneth 6 4 2 417 334 22.0
Gorefield 4 2 2 248 246 13.5
Sutton Br 6 1 5 282 331 11.5
Parson Dr 4 1 3 222 233 8.0
Black Cats 6 1 5 234 354 6.0
