FOR the first time in recent seasons Northants A will not contest the final of the English Bowling Federation’s Derbyshire Trophy they won for the third time in 2019, but they will have a big say on the outcome of the southern section title race.
With the exciting 12-2 defeat at Stamford of challengers Norfolk by one shot overall, they dented the visitors’ hopes of a place in the national final, and if they repeat that dose against leaders Lincs in a fortnight’s time, a place in the final will hang by a thread.
With the last of the 25 ends to be played, Northants A trailed by a shot for the first time in the match, but rinks skipped by Martyn Dolby, John Earl and Brian Martin managed to retrieve the situation and run out 88-87 winners to claim 12 of the 14 points on offer.
Northants captain James Harford was forced to make wholesale changes with the likes of Paul Dalliday, Simon Law and Tristan Morton on duty for Lincolnshire in the Liberty Trophy semi-finals, but his combination of replacements responded superbly to the task.
Meanwhile, Malcolm Squires, founder of the B team five years ago, was recognised for his commitment to the county cause stretching back almost four decades when he captained the team for the final time against Hunts at Peterborough & District, but sadly they could not give him a winning send-off as they went down 97-74.
Before the match another Federation stalwart, Cliff Watson, presented Malcolm and his wife Norma with gifts from the county to mark the occasion – Malcolm having played in the Derbyshire Trophy competition for close on forty years.
Northants actually led at the ten end stage of the match and were only five shots adrift with five ends remaining, but the strong Hunts team charged home over those closing ends, scoring 29 shots to 11, the solitary Northants win coming from Andy Cox, Mick Greaves and Mick Linnell thanks to a single on the last end.
RESULTS
NORTHANTS A 88 (12), NORFOLK 87 (2) – (Northants rinks only):
Ally McNaughton, Bob Warters, James Harford lost 25-16; Wayne Aspinall, Dusty Miller, Martyn Dolby won 26-22; Owen Aspinall, MIke Robertson, Brian Martin won 22-20; Richard Allam, Adam Emery, John Earl won 24-20.
NORTHANTS B 74 (2), HUNTS 97 (12) – (Northants rinks only):
Les Sharp, Jeff Clipston, Dudley Smith lost 28-20; Stuart Agger, Cliff Watson, Graham Agger lost 23-18; Andy Cox, Mick Greaves, Mick Linnell won 20-19; Gareth Dickenson, Melvyn Beck, John Holroyd lost 27-16.
