NORTHANTS A resume their Derbyshire Trophy programme away to North Essex on Sunday, February 9 with their hopes of retaining the English Bowling Federation’s indoor county championship hanging in the balance.

Having narrowly losing their last game to Hunts, they will be seeking maximum points to keep them in the southern section title picture.

There are three changes to the team with Tristan Morton, Trevor Collins and Stephen Harris coming in for the unavailable Peter Brown, Tom Newman-Borrett and Michael Jeapes.

Northants A: Stuart Agger, Graham Agger, Stephen Harris; Michael Humphreys, Paul Dalliday, Tristan Morton; Brian Martin, Martyn Dolby, John Earl; Wayne Morris, Trevor Collins, Simon Law.

The B team conclude their programme the same day away to Huntingdon A, who are now favourites for the southern section title following their 14-0 demolition of previous leaders North Cambs.

There’s one change from the team beaten by North Cambs wirh Mike Anderson returning for the unavailable John Holroyd.

Northants B: Malcolm Mitchell, Ally McNaughton, Mike Anderson; Neil Wright, Andy Cox, Kevin Vinter; Mick Porter, Jay Travis, Roger Martin; Martin Prudhoe, Dudley Smith, Mick Linnell.

NORTHANTS B were unable to build on their first Derbyshire Trophy win of the season just before Christmas when they were beaten 70-111 by North Cambs at March.

They were beaten on all four rinks, although Roger Martin’s rink only succumbed on the final end of the match.

It was nip and tuck on three of the fours rinks during the opening half of the match, but North Cambs gradually took control on two of them to claim all 14 points on offer.

Northants B’s final match of the season is away to Hunts on February 9 when they will be hoping to take some points to aid their A team’s bid to retain the title.

RESULT

NORTHANTS B 70 (0), NORTH CAMBS 111 (14) – (Northants rinks only):

Mick Porter, Jay Travis, Roger Martin lost 21-24; Malcolm Mitchell, Ally McNaughton, Dudley Smith lost 13-35; John Holroyd, Andy Cox, Kevin Vinter lost 13-25; Martin Prudhoe, Neil Wright, Mick Linnell lost 22-27.

THE NWBF are holding a quiz night at the Peterborough & District Indoor Bowls Centre on Saturday, February 8 starting at 7.00pm.

Tickets cost £6.00 per person, which includes light refreshments, and a maximum of six players per team.

Register your teams with Viv Hempsell on 01733 234089 by February 3.

Cheques/cash enclosed payable to N.W.B.F. or direct payment via BACS: Ref: Quiz; Sort code: 30-99-50; Account: 62123762.

NORTHANTS B hope to begin the New Year with a victory when they resume their English Bowling Federation’s Derbyshire Trophy campaign away to North Cambs at March on Sunday, January 12.

There is one change in personnel from the team that achieved their first win at home to North Essex in their last game, with Roger Martin returning for Pete Linnell.

Northants B: Malcolm Mitchell, Ally McNaughton, Mike Anderson; Mick Porter, Dudley Smith, Roger Martin; John Holroyd, Andy Cox, Kevin Vinter; Martin Prudhoe, Neil Wright, Mick Linnell.

RESULTS of the NWBF Christmas draw: £100 – LIz Fordham; £50 – Sue Mansbridge; £25 – Carol Grief.

NORTHANTS A’s hopes of retaining the English Bowling Federation’s Derbyshire Trophy received a setback when they were beaten 82-80 by Hunts after a dramatic finish at Stamford.

Northants were in the driving seat for most of the match and led by twenty shots at one stage, but gradually what seemed a comfortable advantage was gradually eroded over the closing ends as Hunts snatched victory from the jaws of death, despite only winning on one of the four rinks.

The home side did pick up five points from the 14 on offer, but may be looking at favours from other counties in the New Year to keep their title hopes on track.

There were wins for the rinks of Peter Brown (20-18) and Martyn Dolby (23-19), while John Earl’s rink shared the spoils at 21 apiece, but Simon Law’s rink went down by eight (16-24).

Their next game is not until February 9 when they visit North Essex.

RESULT

NORTHANTS A 80 (5), HUNTS 82 (9) – (Northants rinks only):

Stuart Agger, Graham Agger, Peter Brown won 20-18; Brian Martin, Tom Newman-Borrett, John Earl drew 21-21; Michael Humphreys, Paul Dalliday, Martyn Dolby won 23-19; Wayne Morris, Michael Jeapes Simon Law lost 16-24.

NORTHANTS teams enjoyed a double success in the latest round of Derbyshire Trophy matches, the English Bowling Federation’s indoor county championship.

The A team, the defending champions, made it two wins out of two with a narrow 93-88 (10-4) victory over North Cambs at Stamford, while the B team made it third time lucky as they gained their first win, 91-68 (12-2), at the expense of North Essex at Peterborough & District.

There were rinks wins for the A team from team captain Simon Law and Peter Brown, while Mike Anderson, Kevin Vinter and team captain Dudley Smith were rink winners for the B team.

The A team are back in action on Sunday (Dec 1st) when they host Hunts at Stamford (10.00am).

RESULTS

NORTHANTS A 93 (10), NORTH CAMBS 88 (4) – (Northants rinks only):

Paul Dalliday, Martyn Dolby, Simon Law won 29-21; Stuart Agger, Graham Agger, Peter Brown won 29-17; Michael Humphreys, Wayne Morris, Adam Warrington lost 14-27; Brian Martin, Tom Newman-Borrett, John Earl lost 21-23.

NORTHANTS B 91 (12), NORTH ESSEX 68 (2) – (Northants rinks only):

Malcolm Mitchell, Ally McNaughton, Mike Anderson won 25-13; Martin Prudhoe, Andy Cox, Mick Linnell lost 18-23; Pete Linnell, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter won 26-13; Mick Porter, Neil Wright, Dudley Smith won 23-19.

NORTHANTS B took four points from their home clash with Norfolk in the Derbyshire Trophy and in doing so may have assisted their A team’s bid to retain the English Bowling Federation’s indoor county championship.

Norfolk are likely to be on of the major challengers for the title and therefore might have expected to claim more than the ten they collected at Peterborough & District in a 105-71 victory.

The rinks of Mick Linnell (23-16) and Kevin Vinter (28-20), whose rink was ten shots down at one stage, provided Northants B with their points, but there were heavy losses suffered by the rinks of Roger Martin (12-32) and Mike Anderson (8-37).

Northants B are back in action again on Sunday (November 24th) when they entertain North Essex, while the A team bid to make it two wins out of two when they host North Cambs at Stamford.

New Northants B captain Dudley Smith comes in for his first appearance of the season in place of Wayne Aspinall, although he has shuffled the pack with only Kevin Vinter’s rink unchanged.

Northants B: Malcolm Mitchell, Ally McNaughton, Mike Anderson; Pete Linnell, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter; Martin Prudhoe, Andy Cox, Mick Linnell; Neil Wright, Dudley Smith, Roger Martin.

RESULT

NORTHANTS B 71 (4), NORFOLK 105 (10) – (Northants rinks only):

Wayne Aspinall, Ally McNaughton, Mike Anderson lost 8-37; Martin Prudhoe, Neil Wright, Mick Linnell won 23-16; Pete Linnell, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter won 28-20; Malcolm Mitchell, Andy Cox, Roger Martin lost 12-32.

JESSICA Bolam (City of Peterborough) has been elected president of the Northants Women’s Bowling Federation for a second time.

She received the chain of office from outgoing president Elizabeth Hext (Conservative) at the annual meeting held at Peterborough & District.

In other administrative changes, Shirley Suffling was confirmed as the new match secretary following the resignation of Elizabeth Wallace, but the post of treasurer, formerly held by Chris Ford, remains vacant, as do the posts of deputy president and additional committee members.

Joan Robinson and Viv Hempsell remain as the county team captains,and increasing costs has forced the county to raise match fees for county matches to £20.00 per player.

Below: New NWBF president Jessica Bolam receives the chain of office from outgoing president Elizabeth Hext.

IT will be a case of same again when Northants B host Norfolk in the Derbyshire Trophy match at Peterborough & District on Sunday week (November 17th).

Team captain Dudley Smith has selected the same team that pushed the county’s A team all the way in the opening match of the season last month.

Northants B: Wayne Aspinall, Ally McNaughton, Mike Anderson; Pete Linnell, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter; Malcolm Mitchell, Andy Cox, Roger Martin; Martin Prudhoe, Neil Wright, Mick Linnell.

The B team are also in action the following Sunday (November 24th) at home to North Essex, and the A team will also be playing that day at home to North Cambs at Stamford, where they will be hoping to make it two wins out of two in their defence of the title.

Northants A: Brian Martin, Tom Newman-Borrett, John Earl; Paul Dalliday, Michael Jeapes, Martyn Dolby; Stuart Agger, Graham Agger, Peter Brown; Michael Humphreys, Wayne Morris, Adam Warrington. Res: Simon Law & Ollie Jeapes.