Louth IBC teams strengthen title ambitions

Louth Indoor Bowls Club's men's over 60s team enjoyed a 122-64 aggregate shots victory in their county league match at home to Dunholme last Thursday.
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Bowls

The visitors gained one rink victory by a narrow margin, but Louth won the other four rinks comfortably.

The honour of achieving the best winning score went to the rink consisting of Keith Kelly, Dave Roper, Barry Toyn and Steve Moore which triumphed by 18 shots.

Colin Smith’s rink won by 17 shots, while George Willoughby’s rink won by 16 shots and John Welsh’s rink were winners by 13 shots.

The only blip was Barry Southwell’s rink which lost by six shots.

The result put the team top of Division Two, 10 points clear of Sleaford who were due to play at Long Sutton on Monday.

* The men’s A team went one better on the Saturday as they won all five rinks to claim the maximum 18 points at home against Long Sutton A.

The 120-62 aggregate shots victory over the second-placed side extended Louth’s lead at the top of Division Two to 28 points.

The biggest winning margin came from the rink of Allan Dent, Alan Watson, Mally Hewson and Mark Freemantle which won by 20 shots.

Skips of the other winning rinks were Gary Bell (25-11), Tony Musson (23-11), Russ Dent (24-16) and John Welsh (20-16).

* Club members Allan Dent and Jeff McCue have reached the area finals of the national men’s over 60s pairs competition.

Having battled through four local rounds, beating three pairs from Lincoln and one pair from Stamford, they now face a duo from South Forest IBC, in Mansfield.

Under the rules of the competition the game has to be played at a neutral venue by the end of the month.

If the Louth pair win this game they will qualify for the national finals (last 16) at Nottingham IBC where the knockout stages will be played over two days on March 30 and 31.

* In the club leagues, JCB established a healthy seven-point lead at the top of the Wednesday/Thursday Morning League with a 19-7 win over Sturgeons which dropped the defeated team one place to fourth.

Waltham remained second despite not playing, but Kingfishers moved ahead of Sturgeons on shots difference after cruising to a 31-11 victory against Crackerbarrels.

Square Pegs eased their relegation worries slightly by winning 22-14 against Webbos who slipped seven points adrift at the bottom.

They were not helped by the two teams immediately above them who played each other twice, each recording a win. Castaways beat Pips 19-10 and Pips won the second game 16-7.