Northants A team with President Dick Noble.
Northants B team
President presents 100 appearance county ties to Simon Law (left) and Mick Greaves.
NORTHANTS A made a winning start to their defence of the English Bowling Federation's
Derbyshire Trophy, the indoor inter-county championship, but they were given few favours by their own B team at Peterborough & District on Sunday morning.
The B team took four of the 14 points off the champions by sharing the rink honours at two apiece, and the final margin of victory for the A side was only eight shots – 94-86 – a far cry to 12 months ago when the A squad triumphed by 61 shots in a 14-0 success, albeit on their home green at Stamford.
For the B team, who finished bottom of the southern section last year, the rink of John Holroyd, Cliff Watson and Graham Agger provided the biggest winning margin by defeating Michael Humphreys, Adam Warrington and team captain James Harford 34-13.
County president Dick Noble led Jeff Clipston and Brian Bassam to a 22-21 victory over Paul Dalliday, Trevor Collins and Simon Law, who as the match entered the closing stages seemed destined to collect the spoils.
Tristan Morton was in awesome form for the A team as he guided Brian Martin and Bob Warters to a 29-10 victory over Mike Ramsden, Mick Greaves and debutant Mick Duell, while Stephen Harris, Roger Martin and Martyn Dolby made certain that the bulk of the points were going in the direction of the A team with a 31-20 defeat of Les Sharp, Ray Keating and Mick Linnell.
Next up for the B team is a home match against Norfolk on Sunday, November 17th, with the A team returning to action the following Sunday (November 24th) against North Cambs at Stamford. MB
RESULT
NORTHANTS A 94 (10), NORTHANTS B 86 (4): (Northants A rinks first) –
Paul Dalliday, Trevor Collins, Simon Law, 21, Jeff Clipston, Brian Bassam, Dick Noble 22.
Stephen Harris, Roger Martin, Martyn Dolby 31, Les Sharp, Ray Keating, Mick Linnell 20.
Michael Humphreys, Adam Warrington, James Harford 13, John Holroyd, Cliff Watson, Graham Agger 34.
Brian Martin, Bob Warters, Tristan Morton 29, Mike Ramsden, Mick Greaves, Mick Duell 10.
