Northants A scored an early success over their rivals.
Ahead of the match, the Northants B side.
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THEY WON almost half the total ends played but Northants B were unable to repeat the form that took them within a handful of shots of winning last year in this season’s keenly fought opening Derbyshire Trophy battle against Northants A.
As the competition rules dictate, the Forterra-sponsored teams played each other in the first fixture to maintain each team’s independence and integrity. Matches will follow for both against Hunts, North Cambs, Norfolk and Lincs.
While every player qualified was affiliated to outdoor clubs in the county federation all but six of the 24 taking part were winter members of the Stamford indoor club on whose surface the 25-end match of two bowl triples was played. It made for some precise, high quality bowls.
James Harford’s ‘A’ team quickly got into their stride to lead 63-30 at the 12-end stage with the rinks skipped by Roger Martin, Simon Law and Martyn Dolby proving a real handful for their opposite numbers – Rod Maplethorpe, Paul Bailey and John Holroyd. As a consequence, the final result overall never looked in doubt.
However, Northants B’s Cliff Watson, skip Peter Brown and the county’s first woman representative in the competition Helen Holroyd, were proving a difficult challenge for Tristan Morton’s rink and led 13-10 at 13 ends before conceding 11 shots in seven ends and eventually losing 20-24.
Commented ‘B’ team captain Malcolm Squires: “Although we won 47 of the 100 ends played, we were dropping too many threes, fours and fives. Congratulations to Helen, Cliff and Peter who lost by only four shots against what I considered their strongest rink and they will play again in our next away game to Norfolk on November 18.”
Result (Northants ‘A’ names first)
Derbyshire Trophy (at Stamford IBC). Northants ‘A’ 125 (14 pts) Northants ‘B’ 64 (0). Adam Warrington, Mick Humphreys, Roger Martin beat Les Sharp, Mick Linnell, Rod Maplethorpe 29-16; Stephen Harris, Tony Scarr, Martyn Dolby beat Mike Ramsden, Richard Allam, John Holroyd 39-9; Paul Dalliday, James Harford, Simon Law beat Brian Bassam, Dick Noble, Paul Bailey 33-19; Nick Wilkie, Jeff Newson, Tristan Morton beat Helen Holroyd, Cliff Watson, Peter Brown 24-20.
