Spalding players celebrate three victories at county bowls finals

Spalding players won three events at the EBF county finals in Lincoln last weekend.

It means there will be good representation from the town at the national finals at Skegness, week commencing August 19.

The Royal Mail Cart team of Paul Caress, son Ashley Caress and Martin Spencer won the Carholme Cup (two-bowl triples).

In the semi-final, they faced Adie Smith, John Cross and Paul Roberts, from Helpringham, who won the Truman Cup only 12 months ago. Paul and Ashley were teaming up with Spencer for the first time this season,and found it tough going against an in-form Roberts. They were 10-6 behind before playing the better bowls in the second half of the game to secure a place in the final, 20-12.

The Royal Mail Cart trio played a team from Cemetery Road BC in Scunthorpe in the final – Vic DeBoer, Chris Smith and Graham Teal. On this occasion, the Spalding team showed their class to win comfortably by the same scoreline and secure the title at their first attempt.

The first title of the weekend to come back to Spalding was won by Jordan Philpott, of Spalding Town, who won the Colin Smith Trophy (Under-25 singles).

He comfortably beat Lee Johnson, of St Giles, 21-7 in the semi-finals before facing defending county champion, David Bristow, of Helpringham, in a high quality final.

The 21 year old from Spalding Town was up against it for much of the match but showed his class, finished strongly to win 21-19 and secure the title for the first time.

Philpott also joined forces with club mates Wayne Phoenix and Adrian Field to win the Truman Cup (three-bowl triples).

In the semi-final, the trio faced the highly-rated David Cullum, Gareth Bland and Alan Dent Jnr, from Cleethorpes.

A fantastic start for Phoenix, Field and Philpott saw them race into a 15-0 lead.

They then managed to stave off a comeback to win comfortably 24-14.

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In the final, they faced Neil Poole, Glenn Boden and Phil Parker, of Cemetery Road BC.

The Spalding Town trio found themselves in a winning position, going into the last end four ahead. The end shaped up nicely before Parker made five shots and Philpott, with last bowl in hand, faced the match losing count.

Philpott held his nerve to play a perfect bowl of his own and his team won the final 17-12.