NORTHANTS A booked their place in the English Bowling Federation’s Derbyshire Trophy final with a dramatic and tense 92-90 victory over southern section title rivals Norfolk at Stamford.
Simon Law’s team ended their five-match campaign with a 100 per cent record and now head to Lincoln at the end of April to face northern champions Notts in the final of this inter-county indoor championship.
Northants are looking to win the title for only the fourth time in their history having lifted the trophy in 1996, 2006 and 2019.
Rink honours were shared at two apiece, but Northants edged home to collect the ten points they required to put the title race out of reach for the visitors, thanks to rink wins for Stephen Harris and Andrew Warrington, whose opposing skip was former world indoor singles champion Mervyn King.
There was only a handful of shots between the teams all through the match and the lead constantly changed hands over the tense last few ends, but after 100 ends of bowls across the four rinks just two shots separated the teams.
RESULT
NORTHANTS A 92 (10), NORFOLK 90 (4) – (Northants rinks only):
Brian Martin, Tom Newman, John Earl lost 18-27; Michael Humphreys, Wayne Morris, Adam Warrington won 25-21; Martyn Dolby, Paul Dalliday, Stephen Harris won 28-20; Stuart Agger, Graham Agger, Simon Law lost 21-22.
