Lincolnshire have opened up an 11 point gap at the top of the Derbyshire Trophy Southern section after defeating Northants A 99-74, claiming 12 of the 14 points at stake at Lincoln IBC.
There was similar disappointment for Northants’ B team away to Huntingdon, where they landed only one winning rink in a 63-91 defeat, completing their first season of fixtures in the event.
For Northants A, who drafted in Trevor Collins and Tris Morton to join Brian Martin, it was always going to be the crucial fixture and for long periods this rink looked like being pivotal, especially when they picked up five shots to lead 18-13 with eight ends to go, then three more to lead 21-18 with three to play.
But conceding six on the last three ends without reply left them pointless.
Elsewhere, after dropping six on the first two ends then a string of 12 without reply, it was always a struggle for Roger Martin’s rink and it was a similar story for Simon Law who went 6-14 behind and finally lost 24-16.
The only bright spot was the rink of Bob Warters, captain James Harford and skip Martyn Dolby who inflicted a rare defeat on George Draper overcoming an early 4-10 deficit to run out 22-15 victors.
At Huntingdon, Northants B were in touch for long periods but as in previous matches they lacked the staying power and momentum to force the issue in the closing stages, illustrated most dramatically with the rink of Les Sharp, Mick Greaves and Pete Brown failing to score on the last 13 ends from just 7-11 behind.
Elsewhere Mick Linnell’s trio lost by nine and despite picking up six shots late on, Rod Maplethorpe’s rink went down 19-22.
A late surge by Mick Ramsden, Mick Humphreys and Jonathan Earl earned a 19-14 win.
Results (Northants names only):
Derbyshire Trophy (at Lincoln): Lincolnshire 99 (12 pts) Northants A 74 (2). B Martin, T Collins, T Morton lost 21-24; B Warters, J Harford, M Dolby won 22-15; H Shipp, N Wright, R Martin lost 15-36; P Dalliday, P Afford, S Law lost 16-24.
Derbyshire Trophy (at Huntingdon): Hunts 91 (12 pts), Northants B 63 (2). B Bassam, G Agger, M Linnell lost 16-25; L Sharp, M Greaves, P Brown lost 9-30; S Roden, D Noble, R Maplethorpe lost 19-22; M Ramsden, M Humphreys, J Earl won 19-14.
FOOTNOTE: Northants A complete their fixtures with a visit to Gallow IBC on Sunday (10am start) to play Norfolk, ideally needing maximum points to overtake Lincs who travel to Fakenham the following week.
With Trevor Collins unavailable and Stephen Harris and Adam Warrington committed elsewhere, captain James Harford has drafted in veteran Jeff Newson to make his 2018 debut.
Northants A from: J Harford, S Law M Dolby, Roger Martin, T Morton, B Warters, J Newson, N Wright, P Dalliday,H Shipp,P Afford,Brian Martin.
