Spalding Bowls Club are into the last 16 of the National Top Club competition after avenging last season’s defeat to Hornsea.
The 2015 winners Spalding’s mixed team travelled to the neutral venue of South Forest Indoor Bowls Club in Mansfield for the tie.
Spalding were seeking revenge as Hornsea knocked them out at exactly the same stage in the competition last season.
Spalding started the stronger of the two teams as Stephen Harris comfortably won the men’s singles, but the scores were soon level as Hornsea won the ladies singles.
The next points to be secured were also by Hornsea as they won the mixed pairs but soon after, Spalding’s Jean Patterson, Danielle Wild, Graham Smith and Mathew Orrey won the mixed fours, meaning that the tie would be decided by the mixed triples.
As Spalding were well up on aggregate, they could afford a draw in the mixed triples but Spalding’s Andy Dunham, Annie Dunham and Martin Spencer didn’t settle for a draw, won the discipline and secured an overall 10-6 points win.
Next up for Spalding are county rivals Lincoln in the last 16 on January 5.
Rink Scores: Ladies Singles – Karen Martin – Lost 17-21.
Men’s Singles – Stephen Harris – Won 21-10.
Mixed Pairs – Ruby Hill and Jordan Philpott – Lost 12-17.
Mixed Triples – Andy Dunham, Annie Dunham and Martin Spencer – Won 17-13.
Mixed Fours – Jean Patterson, Danielle Wild, Graham Smith and Mathew Orrey – Won 20-10.
* Spalding Indoor Bowls Club’s friendly section played host to the team of Lincolnshire Vice Presidents.
This is a game played twice a year and is always a closely contested game played in the most friendly manner as befits the occasion.
Unfortunately, the VPs struggled to form a team due to health issues and even on the day, another bowler had to leave the game and travel home ill.
In order to fulfil the fixture, Spalding supplied two players and then had to drop to one rink playing triples.
Regardless of the tribulations, it was a good game and the VPs actually took an early lead which did not bode well for the home team.
However, Spalding persevered and soon regained the lead before eventually winning 102-85.
Spalding’s top winning rink was skipped by Lily Drawbridge, with Janet Staples, Roger Rout and Pete Bendell. Captain for the day was Roger Perkins.
