Warwickshire’s final game of the group stage on the Midland Counties League saw the travel to Blackstones BC to take on Lincolnshire. With only 17 of the named 34 man squad available for the game team manager Steve Smith had to cobble together enough players to fulfil the fixture. Unfortunately the weakened side struggled in the game, losing 121-145 and gaining just four of the available points to finish bottom of the table.

James Cooper, Declan Maries, Luke Horne and Adam Smith (all Avenue Leamington) kept in touch with their opponents but pulled level after sixteen ends. A five put Smith’s rink ahead for the first time in the game and they held on to their advantage to win 24-17. Andy Prickett, Chris Brereton (both Welford), Howard Wilkins (Oakfield) and Martin Timms (Welford) started well but were level after nine ends and trailed by two with thirteen ends gone. A five but Timms and co back in front and they saw out the remaining ends to win 25-21.

Jacob Mills (Rugby), Trevor Manning (Nuneaton), Derek Maries (Avenue Leamington) and Andy Manning (Nuneaton) scored an early six but was their lead turn into a five shot deficit after fourteen ends. They levelled the scores two ends later but after another two ends the deficit was back to five and it finished as loss of 19-26. Martin Harriman (Avenue Coventry), Josh Tiffin (Rugby), Steve Merrett (Avenue Coventry) and Ben Harris (Erdington Court) were level after five ends but two adrift at the midway point. A good spell by the hosts saw that increase to nine with three ends to go. Harris’ rink edged the remaining ends losing 18-26.

Bill Claridge (Royal Leamington Spa), Rob Maries (Avenue Leamington), Geoff Millership (Nuneaton) and Tom Millership (Avenue Coventry) kept within five shots of their opponents but could never catch up, a good finish saw Millership and co go down 17-26. Graham O’Donohue, Harry Smith, Pete Harwood and Steve Smith (all Nuneaton) were briefly a shot ahead after three ends but soon found themselves eight adrift with six ends left. A five and two took Smith’s rink move back to within a shot but a last end five helped the hosts win 29-18.