Louth A team crowned County League champions

Louth Indoor Bowls Club men's A team clinched the County League title despite suffering their first defeat of the winter season.

Hosting Sleaford – the only team who could knock Louth off the top of Division Two – the visitors won on four of the five rinks and secured an aggregate 104-87 shots victory.

But it was the two points gained from the home team’s one rink win which proved vital as it put them an unassailable 19 points ahead of Sleaford with one match of the season left.

There are 18 points to play for in each match and the two clubs have one remaining match – the return fixture at Sleaford on Sunday, April 17 which would have proved a cracking finale.

* Having reached the EIBA National Finals at Nottingham, Louth duo Allan Dent and Jeff McCue failed to progress beyond the last sixteen of the Men’s Over 60s Pairs.

Despite producing some good bowls, they were eventually outplayed by opponents from the Victory club in Portsmouth and lost 27-13.

* There will be further Louth representation on the national stage after Sylvia Stainton, Wendy Blyth and Joan Stones reached the final stages of the English Bowls Federation indoor rinks.

The trio will play for a place in the quarter-finals when they take on opponents from North Cambridgeshire at Newark on Tuesday, April 19.

Harry Putland and Tony Musson will be at Newark the following day as they have reached the finals of the men’s pairs.

* Fast Shippers became convincing champions of Division Two in the Evening Triples League when wins over Legends (12-9), Travellers (23-10) and Spire (25-4) put them 22 points ahead of EBC who are now in a three-way fight for second spot.

EBC trounced Travellers 28-5, but lost 13-11 to fourth-placed Badgers who moved on to the same points tally as third-placed Stags.

They suffered two defeats (15-14 to Travellers and 15-8 against Legends), but crucially have a game in hand and a far superior shots difference.

* There were contrasting results for the top two duos in Division Three of the Friday Mixed Pairs where Steve Moore and Pam Cowling hold a four-point advantage with two games to play.

They beat J. Williams and M. Rose 18-8, but lost 21-7 to second-placed pairing Peter and Joan Hill. The Hills had lost the chance to close the gap when going down 26-12 to G and B Clark.

Third-placed Ray and Sue Green can now only fight for second spot despite thumping M. Green and S. Gurbutt 27-5, but have a crucial game against the Hills who they trail by one point.

* The club will be holding an open session on Sunday between 9am and 1.30pm when non-members can go along and try the game out. All ages are welcome, and entry is free.