INDOOR BOWLS: Sleaford ladies lose despite winning more rinks

Although winning on three of the five rinks, the overall score went against them, losing the match 98-107, with just a six points reward but only 10 shots away from a further six points and a win.

Leading the way for Sleaford was Jill Arnold’s set of Diane Watson, Mary Thomas and Helen Quirke who were neck and neck with the opposing set until the 12th end at 11-10, but took complete control of the game, scoring 17 shots to the opposition’s four to run out 28-14 winners.

Gill Dwyer’s usual set of Gloria Davies, Sheila Pratt and Linda Wills took an early five shot lead, were pegged back to go one shot behind after end eight, then continued to outscore the Skegness set with heavy scoring on the ends that they won, resulting in a 26-13 victory.

The set of Rhoda Wing, Patricia Rands, Sheila Methven and Margaret McKie set off at a cracking pace, going 14-3 up after the first seven ends but allowed their opponents back into the match by scoring just one shot over the next eight ends to go behind 15-17. But the revival for Skegness was short lived as the Sleaford set scored eight shots over three ends to finish 23-20 winners.

The Skegness set controlled the game against Gillian Annison’s team of Carole Richardson, Steph Collin and Ann Garnham, never allowing them to take the lead throughout. They scored heavily, picking up 17 shots over seven ends but the Sleaford ladies kept plugging away to try and influence the overall score, losing 10-28.

Kath Lake with Barbara Barnes, Lily Searle and Andrea Davies, must have wondered what happened in their game. They took a six shot lead in the first two ends, then dropped 28 shots without reply until the last third of the match, but to no avail, and lost 11-32.

Friendly

Sleaford hosted a friendly match against a touring team from Thornaby, North Yorkshire, which resulted in a commanding 119-65 victory for the visitors, with Sleaford winning just one set thanks to good bowling from John Southern, supported by Carole Richardson, Beatriz Lambert and Colin Upton.

Bill Peirson, captain of the Thornaby team, presented the Sleaford club with an engraved jug which is proudly displayed in the bar. In his closing speech, he thanked the home team for a good match, the catering staff for the meal, and would like to return again next year.