IT’S four defeats in four matches this season for the Northants women’s Donald Steward team following their 106-120 defeat away to North Essex at Cornard.

The rink of Carol Warters, Shirley Suffling and Chris Ford were convincing 36-15 winners, while Karen Porter, Penny Hart and Moira Holroyd edged home 21-20, but there were defeats for the rinks of Wendy Stevens (15-29), Liz Hext (15-35) and Gill King (19-21).

RESULT

DONALD STEWARD TROPHY

NORTHANTS 106 (4), NORTH ESSEX 120 (14): (Northants rinks only) –

Norma Squires, Terri Handley, Wendy Stevens lost 15-29; Carol Warters Shirley Suffling, Chris Ford won 36-15; Elizabeth Wallace, Val Du’Kett, Lix Hext lost 15-35; Hazel Bass, Viv Hempsell, Gill King lost 19-21; Karen Porter, Penny Hart, Moira Holroyd won 21-20.

BLACKSTONES have narrowly missed out on a place in the area final of the English Bowling Federation’s Durham Centenary Trophy.

They were beaten 91-87 at home to Hunts champions Brampton with the match in the balance right until the final few ends.

THE family of former Northants Bowling Federation president Dick Noble were touched by the many bowlers who attended his funeral at a packed Peterborough Crematorium, many of them wearing county or club colours as requested by the family.

The mourners included current English Bowling Federation president Trevor Hardingham, who made the trip from Norfolk to pay his respects.

Donations at the ceremony totalled £925 and these have been presented by the family to Sue Ryder.

“The family would like to thank all those who attended Dick’s funeral and for all the cards and messages of sympathy,” said wife Sheron.

FOR the first time this season both the Adams and Newton teams achieved victories on the same day in the English Bowling Federation county men’s championships, but neither result may be of little significance entering the final weekend of the competition.

The Adams team won for the first time this season – 165-146 away to North Essex at Radwinter – while the Newton side made it three wins out of four away to North Cambs (174-165) at March, but with title rivals Lincs and Norfolk both collecting more points, they are all but out of the southern section title reckoning.

As a result of their 18 points return, the Adams team leapfrogged North Essex to climb off the bottom of the table, the four rinks wins coming courtesy of Graham Agger (38-25), Paul Bailey (27-15), John Earl (25-20) and Paul Buckley (30-27).

The Newton team trail leaders Lincs by 11 points and next weekend’s opponents Norfolk by three going into the final fixture, but their 16 points return could have been more with the rinks of Tom Fielding and Ally McNaughton losing by one shot and two shots respectively.

The rink of Tony Belson topped the scoring chart (40-25) and there were also wins for Kevin Vinter (30-29) and Alec Emery (33-19).

RESULTS

ADAMS TROPHY

Northants 165 (18), North Essex 146 (4): (Northants rinks only) –

Richard Allam, Jay Travis Jenner, Paul Bailey won 27-15; Roger Stevens, Zack & Peter Brown lost 21-31; Neil Wright, Mick Linnell, Graham Agger won 38-25; Stuart Agger, Martyn Dolby, Adam Warrington lost 24-28; Michael Humphreys, Mark Pye, John Earl won 25-20; Howard Shipp, Ray Keating, Paul Buckley won 30-27.

NEWTON TROPHY

Northants 174 (16), North Cambs 165 (6): (Northants rinks only) –

Malcolm Mann, Darren MIddleton, Ally McNaughton lost 27-29; Les Sharp, Martin Welsford, Tony Belson won 40-25; Jeff Clipston, Mick Greaves, Alec Emery won 33-19; Jim Ruddy, Dick Ford, Barry Lawrence lost 19-37; Gareth Dickenson, Andrew Cook, Tom Fielding lost 25-26; Steve Lander, Tony Mace, Kevin Vinter won 30-29.

THE Newton team’s hopes of reaching the national final at Skegness in August received a dent when they lost their unbeaten record to Lincs at Grantham, picking up just five points from a 149-165 defeat.

It means that Lincs, who had also won their first two matches, are now nine points ahead of Northants at the top of the southern section with two fixtures remaining, Northants travel to North Cambs (this Saturday) and then Norfolk, while Lincs are at home to Suffolk and then away to Hunts.

Frustratingly, Northants led for two thirds of the match, but between ends twenty and 25 the wheels came off, as Lincs collated 35 shots to Northants’ 15 to take control at 135-122, a margin they comfortably maintained to the end.

The Northants rink wins came from Tom Fielding (28-17) and Alec Emery (33-32), while the rink of Kevin Vinter drew 23-23.

Meanwhile, the Adams team suffered a third defeat of the season when beaten 196-130 by Lincs at Boston, returning home with just two points thanks to the rink of Graham Agger, which won 36-24.

RESULTS

ADAMS TROPHY

NORTHANTS 130 (2), LINCS 196 (20) – (Northants rinks only):

Wayne Morris, Martyn Dolby, Adam Warrington lost 28-30; Michael Humphries, Mark Pye, John Earl lost 25-31; Howard Shipp, Ray Keating, Paul Buckley lost 14-32; Jay Travis-Jenner, Martin & Paul Bailey lost 15-30; Roger Stevens, Jeremy Tucker, Zack Brown lost 11-49; Neil Wright, Mick Linnell, Graham Agger won 36-24.

NEWTON TROPHY

NORTHANTS 149 (5), LINCS 165 (17) – (Northants rinks only):

Adam Emery, Andrew Cook, Tom Fielding won 28-17; Jeff Clipston, Mick Greaves, Alec Emery won 33-32; Peter Cox, Tony Mace, Kevin Vinter drew 23-23; Jim Ruddy, Dick Ford, Barry Lawrence lost 20-33; Malcolm Mann, Darren Middleton, Ally McNaughton lost 22-27; Les Sharp, Robert Heath, Tony Belson lost 23-33.

THE Northants women’s teams are still seeking their first wins in the English Women’s Bowling Federation county championships following home defeats at the hands of Suffolk in the latest round of matches.

The Donald Steward team, playing at City of Peterborough, collected just three points in a 96-127 defeat with Gill King’s rink winning again – 23-18 – while Chris Ford’s rink shared the spoils at 21-21.

Over at Yaxley, the Silver Jubilee Vase team went one point better with two rink wins in a 82-112 defeat courtesy of Pauline Jones (26-20) and Joyce Needham (21-18).

The Donald Steward team are next in action away to North Essex on June 28.

RESULTS

DONALD STEWARD TROPHY

Northants 96 (3), Suffolk 127 (15) – (Northants rinks only):

Elizabeth Wallace, Val Du’Kett, Liz Hext lost 15-33; Joan Robinson, Viv Hempsell, Gill King won 23-18; Tina Tinklin, Penny Hart, Moira Holroyd lost 21-23; Norma Squires, Wendy Stevens, Myra Landsburgh lost 16-32; Carol Warters, Shirley Suffling, Chris Ford drew 21-21.

SILVER JUBILEE VASE

Northants 82 (4), Suffolk 112 (14) – (Northants rinks only):

Christine Pell, Gina Shoebridge, Ann Northen lost 12-33; Dawn Prosser, Gill Day, Carol Grief lost 14-17; Sue Seed, Karen Porter, Ann Holmes lost 15-24; Linda Toms, Terri Handley, Pauline Jones won 26-20; Kate Heath, Marlene Osbourne, Joyce Needham won 21-18.

DAVE Corney could not have scripted any better his start as captain of the Northants Bowling Federation’s Newton Trophy team.

His team made it two wins out of two with another emphatic victory at Whittlesey Manor as they defeated opening weekend leaders Hunts 171-146 to move to the top of the southern section with 38 points from a possible 44.

Now they face a run-in of three away matches starting with a trip to Grantham on Saturday to face Lincolnshire, but they have given themselves a strong foundation on which to launch a formidable title challenge.

They won on five of the six rinks to collect twenty points, with the trio of Malcolm Mann, Darren Middleton and Ally McNaughton producing a late surge of shots to win 35-25 and top the rink honours. There were also victories for the rinks of Tom Fielding (23-22), Tony Belson (32-28), Kevin Vinter (32-26) and Barry Lawrence (28-20).

Meanwhile the Adams Trophy team were beaten for the second week running, but on this occasion the margin was a frustrating three shots against defending champions Hunts at Parkway.

Rink honours were shared at three apiece, but Hunts claimed the overall spoils with a 165-162 victory.

The Northants rink wins came from Adam Warrington (31-22), who also won against Suffolk on the opening weekend, Paul Bailey (32-30) and James Harford (31-20).

RESULTS

ADAMS TROPHY

Northants 162 (6), Hunts 165 (16) – (Northants rinks only):

Wayne Morris, Martyn Dolby, Adam Warrington won 31-22; Graham Agger, Ray Keating, Paul Buckley lost 17-30; Roger Stevens, Zack Brown, Paul Bailey won 32-30; Neil Wright, Michael Humphries, John Earl lost 25-35; Stuart Agger, Mick Linnell, Roger Martin lost 26-28; Howard Shipp, Mike Robertson, James Harford won 31-20.

NEWTON TROPHY

Northants 171 (20), Hunts 146 (2) – (Northants rinks only):

Jeff Clipston, Mick Greaves, Alec Emery lost 21-25; Gareth Dickenson, Andrew Cook, Tom Fielding won 23-22; Les Sharp, Robert Heath, Tony Belson won 32-28; Peter Cox, Tony Mace, Kevin Vinter won 32-26; Jim Ruddy, Dick Ford, Barry Lawrence won 28-20; Malcolm Mann, Darren Middleton, Ally McNaughton won 35-25.

THE funeral of former Northants Bowling Federation president Dick Noble will take place at the Peterborough Crematorium on Thursday, June 23rd at 3.00pm and then afterwards at the Peterborough & District club.

No flowers by request, but any donations will be in aid of Sue Ryder.

The family have also requested that mourners wear bowls shirts.

Those clubs involved in the Dan Duffy Trophy later that day who may have players wanting to pay their respects can, if they so wish, seek to rearrange the tie, providing it is played before the semi-finals on July 7th.

WHAT a start for Dave Corney in his first match as captain of the Newton Trophy team as he watched his new-look squad achieve a rare victory over Suffolk, who have appeared in the last three finals, winning two of them.

They won on four of the six rinks at Whittlesey Manor for a resounding 192-153 success, collecting 18 of the 22 points on offer, and now they look to build on that foundation when they host Hunts at the same venue on Saturday.

There were runaway victories for the rinks of Tony Belson (45-18), Tom Fielding (40-23) and Ally McNaughton (39-21), while Barry Lawrence’s rink held off a late charge to win 27-24.

The Adams team, playing at Parkway, were unable to complete the double over Suffolk as they went down 140-178 (4-18), their rink wins coming from Adam Warrington (33-18) and Paul Buckley (26-19).

RESULTS

ADAMS TROPHY

Northants 140 (4), Suffolk 178 (18) – (Northants rinks only):

Brian Martin, James Harford, Mike Robertson lost 24-36; Wayne Morris, Martyn Dolby, Adam Warrington won 33-18; Tom Newman, MIchael Humphreys, John Earl lost 19-35; Roger Stevens, Zack Brown, Paul Bailey lost 22-34; Graham Agger, Ray Keating, Paul Buckley won 26-19; Stuart Agger, Mick Linnell, Roger Martin lost 15-36.

NEWTON TROPHY

Northants 192 (18), Suffolk 153 (4) – (Northants rinks only):

Malcolm Mann, Darren Middleton, Ally McNaughton won 39-21; Jim Ruddy, Dick Ford, Barry Lawrence won 27-24; Gareth Dickenson, Andrew Cook, Tom Fielding won 40-23; Les Sharp, Robert Heath, Tony Belson won 45-18; Peter Cox, Tony Mace, Kevin Vinter lost 20-35; Jeff Clipston, Mick Greaves, Alec Emery lost 21-32.

IT is with deep regret and sorrow that we announce the sad passing of former Northants Bowling Federation president Dick Noble on Thursday, June 2 after a lengthy illness.

A larger than life character, he was a well known and respected bowler and administrator, not only in this county, but much further afield, both within the Federation family and Bowls England.

He was a prominent figure in the West Ward club for many years and served as chairman before moving to Whittlesey Manor.

He was county president in 2018/19, and left an indelible mark with his post match remarks and analysis, which were often laced with a touch of irreverance. Alas, he was unable to complete a second term in office due to the pandemic.

He was then elected the county’s first-ever chairman at last October’s annual general meeting, but unfortunately was only able to chair one meeting before ill health forced him to take a back seat from Federation duties.

He will be sorely missed by all his many friends and colleagues and the county’s deepest sympathies are extended to wife Sherin and his family.

Keep checking the website for funeral arrangements.