Boston’s bowlers achieve outstanding win in Denny Plate final

The winning margin was 77-65, seemingly comfortable, but that was an illusion as a determined and talented team from Folkestone fought to keep their chances alive, repeatedly reducing the aggregate to single figures as the game entered the closing stages.

The best winning rink for Boston was skipped by Martin Tomlin, playing with Mark Robinson, Chris Gill and Scott Whyers, as they took control of their game from the eighth end to win 24-13.

Matt Whyers’ rink, with Ian Clark, Dave Allen and Alex Tomlin, had a tight game and were trailing by five shots with three ends to go, but a score of six on the nineteenth end ultimately gave them the position to win; final score 20-18.

Jonathan West’s rink, Keith Tointon, Karl Pick and Nathan Dunnington, won a low-scoring game by just one shot, 16-15, having led from the tenth end in a closely-fought encounter.

Andy Reeson’s rink, with Liam Reeson, Rod West and 16-year-old Aidan Brickles, the youngest member of the squad, led for much of their game, but were caught and lost only by three shots, 16-19.

With three rounds of games to go in the Evening League until the end of the season, we are close to knowing who will be the winners and losers across the two divisions.

In Cammacks Division Two, Desperados have sealed their promotion after beating their nearest rivals, Hotspurs, 4-2 in this week’s game, winning convincingly on one rink 28-10 and just losing the other 16-17.  Hotspurs, with a bye in the next round, now trail by eleven points, too many to make up.

Holland Fen and Invaders in the Orchard Health Group First Division both won 4-2 in their latest games, to maintain a twelve-point gap at the top of the table.  Against Parthians, Holland Fen was tested on both rinks, winning 18-13 on one and losing 14-16 on the other.  Invaders beat Breakaways 20-12 and lost the other 17-22.

Theoretically, Invaders could still catch up with two 6-0 wins but Holland Fen’s much better shot aggregate would still see them as champions.

The battle for third spot behind them became more intense with Strollers being beaten on both rinks by A40, who won 20-16 and 16-14, while Optimists took all six points in winning 35-9 and 30-18 over Golfers.  Optimists now trail Strollers by just four points.

With Nomads beating Dynamics 6-0, winning 28-14 and 18-15, and Royal Mail managing only two points for a 21-19 win against IBC, it is Royal Mail who will be relegated after a tough season.

Burtons stay third in Division Two after beating Central 4-2, winning 20-13 and losing 19-20.  Woodpeckers and Amateurs are just five and six points behind, Woodpeckers beating Vectors 5-1 and Amateurs winning against Kingfishers 4-2.

Vikings beat Shipmates 4-2, winning 29-17 and losing 16-18.