After a gruelling campaign so far – and three successive defeats – Northants’ Adams Trophy team at last chalked up a win, taking all but two of the 22 points at stake at North Essex.
They are out of running to win the southern section of the title they claimed in 2015 for the first time their history but Jonathan Earl’s team will be buoyed by the victory as they take on Norfolk at Holt on Saturday in the final game of the season.
In an idyllic setting, the beautifully prepared Radwinter green, proved the perfect surface for fast, touch bowling which suited the Northants players many of whom take to the indoor carpets during the winter months.
Indeed, Northants were rarely stretched, establishing an early 32-19 lead before extending it to 98-54 at halfway in the 31-end encounter. They led 125-72 after 20 ends before finally establishing a 187-124 victory margin.
For the third successive week Brian Martin and Stephen Harris took the rink honours, this time joined by Tom Fielding in a 41-15 rout.
Les Sharp, promoted from the Newton side, which didn’t have a game this week, finally achieved his Adams flash for completing six matches, though it has taken one of the county’s most loyal servants, nearly a decade! He helped Paul Bailey and Adam Warrington to a 28-16 win.
Mick Linnell, also guesting from the Newton, joined Mick Humphreys and Earl in a comfortable win while there were other victories for rinks skipped by Paul Buckley and Martin Welsford.
For Wittering’s Ally McNaughton the afternoon was bittersweet. He was awarded his county badge after completing his first three appearances for the Adams team but with Trevor Smith and John Holroyd was unfortunate to lose on the last end, conceding three shots to a displaced jack when leading 22-20.
Results (Northants names only):
Adams Trophy ( at Radwinter): North Essex 124 (2 pts), Northants 187 (20). M Humphreys, M Linnell, J Earl won 34-23; L Sharp, PBailey,A Warrington won 28-16; S Roden, G Agger,M Welsford won 29-25; T Smith, A McNaughton, J Holroyd lost 22-23; B Martin, S Harris, T Fielding won 41-15; R Stevens, B Warters, P Buckley won 33-22.
