Suffolk shows no mercy to Adams and Newton teams

The 2018 Newton Trophy team ahead of the much with Suffolk (image by Bob Warters)

A 200-MILE ROUND TRIP to Suffolk proved a fruitless journey for both Northants Bowling Federation’s Adams and Newton Trophy teams collecting just five points from a possible aggregate of 44.

Jon Earl’s Adams team, weakened by calls on key players who preferred to contest an alternative code, had just one winning rink in a 134-161 defeat at Kessingland near Lowestoft, while the Newton team, under the guidance of the irrepressible Cliff Watson, lost by just 15 shots at Laxfield.

Both results put Suffolk in the driving seat for both Adams and Newton titles having already beaten Norfolk away from home, leaving Northants needing to do them a favour to stay in the hunt.

The only success in the Adams came from John Holroyd, Mick Humphreys and Roger Martin who retained their unbeaten record with a 26-20 win after trailing 13-15 with 11 of the 31 ends still to play.

Elsewhere Adam Warrington’s rink were unable to hold on to ian early 15-10 lead, while Martin Welsford was two up at a similar stage. Eleven shots dropped and only one in reply in the last six ends tells its own story for Mick Duell’s rink who eventually lost 17-28.

Overall Northants were rarely in the picture in the closing stages as Suffolk piled on the pressure from a slender 89-87 lead at 20 ends.

Despite losing a handful of key players to the senior Adams team at the start of the season, Watson was confident he had enough fire power in his Newton squad to repeat last year’s visit to the national finals. But Suffolk were in no mood to bend and quickly took advantage of the steamy conditions on a challenging green.

With 11 ends to go, Suffolk led by 20 shots but despite Barry Lawrence’s experienced rink (with Fred Addy and Tony Kemp) picking up two points with a 31-20 win and a Peter Jessop inspired triple snatching a draw, there was little to celebrate.

Said Watson: “The result disappointing because although we were competitive on most rinks it was always going to be difficult to cover big deficits on adjacent rinks.

“At 25 ends the game had gone but eight points were definitely attainable. We only lost by 15 shots because Brian Bassam’s rink picked up 10 shots on the last five ends.”

Results (Northants names only:
Adams Trophy: Suffolk 161 (20 pts) Northants 134 (2). H Shipp, M Dolby, MDuell lost 17-28; T Smith, T Fielding, J Earl lost 19-25; S Lander, G Agger, M Welsford lost 24-28; W Morris, J Corney, P Buckley lost 20-30; J Holroyd, M Humphreys, R Martin won 26-20, S Roden, P Bailey,A Warrington lost 28-30.

Newton Trophy. Suffolk 168 (19) Northants 153 (3) .Fred Addy, Tony Kemp, Barry Lawrence won 31-20; Martin Stokes, Richard Allam,Brian Bassam lost 28-31;
Les Sharp, Malc Squires, Dick Noble lost 20-34; Peter Cox, Bob Warters, Peter Jessop drew 28-28; Roger Stevens, Jeff Clipston, Fred Richardson lost 20-24; Sean Fenlon, Jim Ruddy, Mick Greaves lost 26-31.

FOOTNOTE: For this week’s home Newton clash with Lincolnshire at City of Peterborough (2pm) Watson brings in Zac Brown (Whittlesey Manor) so the youngster gets a feel of a 31-end game. Four rinks will remain unchanged but deputy president Dick Noble will skip Martin Stokes and Richard Allam while Brown will join veterans Les Sharp and Malcolm Squires. Bassam is named as reserve. Expect more changes in the Adams team which entertains some familiar faces in the Lincs team at

(Additional photography by Bob Warters and Fiona Richardson)