Northants Bowling Federation

NORTHANTS A make two changes for Sunday's (February 23rd) crucial Derbyshire Trophy fixture away to Norfolk, where they could clinch a place in the national final for the second year running.

The holders head to the Gallows club in Fakenham requiring just seven of the 14 points on offer to guarantee the southern section title.

Even less than the initial target of seven might be good enough as Norfolk have to play Lincs the following weekend, but Northants will be keen to keep matters in their own hands rather than have to wait for the outcome of that fixture between the second and third placed teams.

Martyn Dolby and Brian Martin return to the team in place of the unavailable Adam Warrington and Paul Bailey, who stepped in as a late replacement for the Lincolnshire match.

Northants A: Michael Humphreys, Paul Dalliday, Simon Law; Nick Wilkie, Trevor Collins, Tristan Morton; Wayne Aspinall, Martyn Dolby, James Harford; Richard Allam, Brian Martin, Roger Martin.

NORTHANTS A remain on course to retain the Derbyshire Trophy, the English Bowling Federation indoor county championship, after an impressive 96-81 victory away to main southern section title rivals Lincolnshire at Lincoln which yielded 12 of the 14 points on offer.

It means that Northants will only need a handful of points from their final match away to Norfolk next Sunday (Feb 23) to book a place in the national final at Newark for a second consecutive year. 

Northants are currently ten points clear of Lincolnshire, both with one fixture remaining, and 16 ahead of Norfolk, who still have to top two to play at home, so seven points from the Gallows club at Fakenham next Sunday will suffice without having to be concerned about the outcome of the Norfolk/Lincs clash the following weekend.

There were outstanding performances from the rinks of team captain James Harford (23-14), Simon Law (31-23) and Tristan Morton (27-14), while Roger Martin's trio, although beaten 30-15, battled hard against the rink of junior international Jonathan West to make certain Northants maintained their overall advantage.

Meanwhile, Northants B claimed only their fifth point of the season during their 116-79 defeat away to Hunts at Huntingdon, a 22-22 draw being achieved by the rink of Mick Linnell, while Graham Agger's rink only lost by one.

Mick Greaves' rink led 9-6 after ten ends only to fade during the second half to eventually lose 13-28, while Fred Richardson's went down 20-41 after leading 17-12 with just ten ends remaining.

RESULTS

Northants A 96 (12), Lincs 81 (2) – (Northants A rinks only):

Richard Allam, Adam Warrington, Roger Martin lost 15-30; Wayne Aspinall, Paul Bailey, James Harford won 23-14; Paul Dalliday, Michael Humphreys, Simon Law won 31-23; Nick Wilkie, Trevor Collins, Tristan Morton won 27-14.

Northants B 79 (1), Hunts 116 (13) – (Northants B rinks only):

Mike Ramsden, Ray Keating, Mick Greaves lost 13-28; Jeff Clipston, Brian Bassam, Mick Linnell drew 22-22; Les Sharp, Malcolm Squires, Fred Richardson lost 21-40; Melvyn Beck, John Holroyd, Graham Agger lost 24-25.

BOWLERS wanting to represent Northants Bowling Women's Federation in this coming season's county championship programme can forward their names now via their own clubs.

The county are hoping that some potential new recruits will also come forward to supplement last year's squads in the Donald Steward Trophy and the Silver Jubilee Vase.

The fixtures are:

Tuesday, June 16 – away to North Essex; Monday, June 22 – away to Norfolk; Wednesday, July 1 – away to North Cambs; Wednesday, July 8 – home to Suffolk; Wednesday, July 15 – home to Hunts.

Clubs are requested to forward names of bowlers wanting to be considered for selection to match secretary Norma Squires by the end of March.

IT'S crunch time for Northants A in their bid to retain the Derbyshire Trophy, the English Bowling Federation indoor county championship.

They visit main southern section title rivals Lincs next Sunday (February 16), then complete their programme away to third-placed Norfolk the following weekend.

Northants A and Lincs are locked together at the top with 38 points from three matches, with Lincs just 11 shots better off, while Norfolk, who also have to play Lincs at home, are a further four points adrift.

Victory at Lincoln would make Northants strong favourites to reach the national final for the second consecutive year, and while a defeat would not be the end of the world, it would take matters out of their own hands.

There are three changes to the team that defeated Hunts in their last game, with Tristan Morton, Tony Scarr and Nick Wilkie replacing the unavailable trio of Brian Martin, Bob Warters and Martyn Dolby.

Meanwhile, Northants B will be hoping to end the season on a high note away to Hunts on the same day (February 16), having managed only four points from their four matches, ironically all of them achieved against their own A team in the opening fixture.

Just one change for Malcolm Squires' team with Melvyn Beck replacing the unavailable Cliff Watson.

Northants A: Richard Allam, Adam Warrington, Roger Martin; Nick Wilkie, Trevor Collins, Tristan Morton; Paul Dalliday, Michael Humphreys, Simon Law; Wayne Aspinall, Tony Scarr, James Harford.

Northants B: Melvyn Beck, John Holroyd, Graham Agger; Mike Ramsden, Ray Keating, Mick Greaves; Les Sharp, Mick Linnell, Fred Richardson; Jeff Clipston, Brian Bassam, Dick Noble.

TICKETS for the annual English Bowling Federation and English Women's Bowling Federation dinner at Skegness on Monday, August 24, will be available from April.

The dinner, which takes the form of a carvery and sweet, plus tea or coffee, is being held at the North Shore Hotel with tickets costing £19.00. A vegetarian option is available.

Tickets can be obtained from Barbara Rushbrook on 01473 718306 and they will be issued on a first come – first served basis.

THE Yaxley club have sadly reported the passing of one of their life members, Ray Bass, who was a well-known figure on the local circuit along with wife Hazel, a regular member of the women's county teams.

He died at home in the early hours of Thursday morning (January 9) having never fully recovered from a severe stroke suffered three months ago.

The funeral is at Peterborough Crematorium on Tuesday, January 28 at 1.00pm following by a thanksgiving service at Farcet Church (2.00pm).

FOOTNOTE: Those who attended the funeral services of Ketton and Stamford IBC bowler Peter Edwards will be interested to know that from the collections taken, the charities Action Bladder Cancer UK and British Heart Foundation each benefitted to the tune of £400.

NORTHANTS Bowling Federation and Northants Women's Bowling Federation are holding a fund-raising Race Night and Fish Supper at the Whittlesey Manor club on Friday, April 3rd.

First race is 7.30pm and tickets cost £8.00, which includes a fish (or chicken) supper and race card.

Tickets are available through NBF secretary Melvyn Beck (01733 208739) or email: melvynbeck@btinternet.com; NWBF secretary Terri Handley (01778 560103) or email: terri.handley@yahoo.co.uk; or NBF and NWBF committee members.

If you would like to purchase a horse, costing £3.00, on the eight-race card, or sponsor one of the races for £10.00, then make contact with the officials above.

THE draws for the 2020 Northants Bowling Federation county cup competitions – Dan Duffy Trophy and Adams Cup – were made at the January meeting of the management committee.

In the Dan Duffy Trophy – the county team championship – holders Blackstones face a trip to West Ward in the opening round, while old rivals Parkway and Whittlesey Manor have been paired together. Incidentally, Blackstones will be at home to Norfolk champions Acle in the Durham Centenary Trophy.

Peterborough & District will begin the defence of the Adams Cup at home to the winners of the preliminary round clash between Parkway and Whittlesey Manor A.

DAN DUFFY TROPHY

Quarter-finals (Thursday, June 25): West Ward v Blackstones; Peterborough & District v City of Peterborough; Parkway v Whittlesey Manor; Crowland v Ketton.

Semi-finals (Thursday, July 9): Peterborough & District or City of Peterborough v West Ward or Blackstones; Parkway or Whittlesey Manor v Crowland or Ketton.

Final (Thursday, July 23 – neutral venue to be decided).

ADAMS CUP

Preliminary round (Thursday, June 18): Crowland A v Ketton; Parkway v Whittlesey Manor A; Crowland B v Yaxley; Langtoft Pearl v Stamford; Whittlesey Manor B v City of Peterborough A.

Quarter-finals (Thursday, July 2): 1 Peterborough & District v Parkway or Whittlesey Manor A; 2 Crowland B or Yaxley v Crowland A or Ketton; 3 West Ward v Langtoft Pearl or Stamford; 4 City of Peterborough B v Whittlesey Manor B or City of Peterborough B.

Semi-finals (Thursday, July 16): Winners of 2 v Winners of 1; Winners of 3 v Winners of 4.

Final (Thursday, July 30 – neutral venue to be decided).

NORTHANTS B suffered a third consecutive 14-0 points defeat in the Derbyshire Trophy when they were beaten 110-70 away to fellow strugglers North Cambs at the Sutton St James club.

There was some cause for optimism during the opening exchanges when Northants led on three of the four rinks, but the hosts gradually gained the upper hand to lead by thirty shots at the ten end stage, which they extended to 44 shots over the next five ends.

Northants did halt North Cambs' charge over the last five ends, scoring twenty shots to 16, but it was little more than a token gesture with the maximum points already in the host team's bag.

Team captain Malcolm Squires was forced into an appearance as substitute for the last seven ends when county president Dick Noble was restricted by a back problem.

There were nine shot defeats for the rinks of Mick Linnell, playing with Mike Ramsden and Fred Richardson, and for Noble's rink of Jeff Clipston and Brian Bassam.

The rink of Ray Keating, Mick Greaves and Les Sharp recovered from 21-3 down to lose by just ten shots, while Graham Agger, Cliff Watson and John Holroyd went down by 12 after setting the early pace.

RESULT

Northants B 70 (0), North Cambs 110 (14): (Northants rinks only) –

John Holroyd, Cliff Watson, Graham Agger lost 18-30; Les Sharp, Mick Greaves, Ray Keating lost 16-26; Mike Ramsden, Fred Richardson, Mick Linnell lost 16-25; Jeff Clipston, Brian Bassam, Dick Noble lost 20-29.

LOCAL bowlers are mourning the passing of Northants Women's Bowling Federation life member Joan Haynes at the age of 96.

She won English Women's Bowling Federation national titles in three different decades and was also a member of winning county teams in the Donald Steward Trophy and the Harry Carver Trophy.

Her first national title came in 1975 in the two-bowl rinks with Peggy Aldcroft and Nora Holt. She teamed up with Joyce Holden and Gloria Haney to win the three-bowl rinks in 1986, and won the senior singles in 1991.

The funeral service is being held at Peterborough Crematorium on Friday (January 3rd) at 2.30pm.