Northants B players and officials ahead of their match against Lincs at Peterborough IBC.
CLAIMING 25 points from a possible 28 from their first two matches, Northants A have taken an early lead at the top of the southern section of the English Bowling Federation’s inter-county Derbyshire Trophy.
Having already beaten their county rivals Northants B by three shots, picking up 11 points, James Harford’s team added the scalp of neighbours Hunts at Stamford, taking all 14 points – winning on all four two-bowl triples rinks and claiming the overall points by 30 shots.
But it was no easy ride as Hunts quickly adapted to the unfamiliar carpet and led by six shots after 10 ends and by two after 15 ends before Northants began to assert their authority.
While the rink of Brian Martin, Neil Wright and Roger Martin (drafted in at the 11th hour) took command over Lindsey Swannell’s trio after dropping a maximum six shots on the second end, a run of 11 shots in four ends put Tony Scarr’s rink 19-15 ahead from which they never relented.
Elsewhere Stephen Harris, Bob Warters and Martyn Dolby were getting little change out of Richard Stevens trio in which Neil Swannell was outstanding in spearheading a 14-5 lead. Then, as the Federation Rules allow, Northants shuffled their positions at halfway to allow Dolby and Harris up front, to conjure an advantage and eventually they added a run of 15 shots in the last six ends.
It was left to Paul Dalliday, Phil Afford and Simon Law to mop up the maximum points against Tom Swannell’s trio. With the scores level after 24 see-saw ends and the match lie against him, Law fashioned a slightly fortuitous deflection to pinch the shot from which Swannell was unable to respond.
Results ( Northants names only):
Derbyshire Trophy: Northants Federation A 105 (14 pts) Hunts 85 (0). P Dalliday, P Afford, S Law won 25-24; S Harris, B Warters, M Dolby won 29-21; H Shipp, A Warrington, T Scarr won 25-23; B Martin, N Wright, R Martin won 26-17.
NORTHANTS B OUTGUNNED BY BILLY & CO
Playing simultaneously at Peterborough IBC, the Northants B side came up against a Lincolnshire squad that included former world singles champion Billy Jackson.
They battled hard but the slick carpet also suited the visitors, most of whom are equally familiar with similar conditions at Lincoln & District IBC.
Mick Humphreys, Jonathan Earl and John Holroyd put up the most stubborn resistance in a 22-25 defeat, claiming seven shots in the last three ends.
The new combination of Steve Roden, Graham Agger and Mick Linnell led 16-15 at 19 ends but finally lost by five to Trevor Bannister’s rink who picked up eight shots late on.
Peter Brown’s trio lost 11-34 to Jackson who gave a masterclass in draw and conversion shots while Rod Maplethorpe’s rink lost early momentum and went down by 13 shots in a closing barrage.
Results (Northants names only):
Derbyshire Trophy: Northants B 75 (0) Lincs 119 (14). S Roden, G Agger, M Linnell lost 18-23; B Bassam, M Greaves, R Maplethorpe lost 24-27; M Humphreys, J Earl, J Holroyd lost 22-25; C Watson, D Noble, P Brown lost 11-34. BW
