Northants Bowling Federation

Northants’ winless Adams Trophy season continued with a 16-6 home defeat at the Blackstones green against Hunts who came with a late surge of scoring to win by three shots.

With just a handful of ends to play and non-playing captain Jonathan Earl pacing the sidelines, clipboard in hand, Northants held a slender lead. But momentum suddenly switched to the visitors who picked up big counts in the closing stages as the home side stumbled.

Earlier, with Hunts struggling to come to terms with the slick surface, Northants led 32-4 after five ends, 99-71 after 15 and 144-130 with five ends to play, before their challenge collapsed.

Having dominated for long stretches Paul Dalliday, Mick Humphreys and Adam Warrington dropped six in the last three ends, Wayne Morris, Mark Pye and Tom Fielding – earning his Adams Badge for at least six appearances – conceded ten in the last three and Steve Roden, Graham Agger and Paul Bailey dropped a five count on the final end.

Elsewhere, Brian Martin, Stephen Harris and Martyn Dolby took the rink honours 30-23 – after leading 24-12 at 20 ends, while fightback of the day was provided by Roger Stevens, Bob Warters and Paul Buckley who tried almost every positional combination – as Federation rules allow – to recover a 16-22 deficit and win 29-26.

And in a ding-dong battle in which there was rarely a shot to separate the teams, Trevor Smith, Ally McNaughton and John Holroyd snatched victory from the jaws of a 24-25 deficit in the last two ends.

FOOTNOTE: In a generous gesture, former Adams Cup winner Roger Martin, who has been sidelined by illness this season, stepped in to buy a commiserating drink for each of the Northants team to celebrate his 70th birthday.

Result (Northants names only):

Adams Trophy (at Blackstones) : Northants 167 (6pts) Hunts 170 (16). R Stevens (Whittlesey Manor), B Warters (Ketton), P Buckley (Blackstones) won 29-26; P Dalliday (Parkway), M Humphreys, A Warrington (both Blackstones) lost 30-32; B Martin (Parkway), S Harris, M Dolby (Blackstones) won 30-23; W Morris, P Pye, T Fielding (all Blackstones) lost 21-27; S Roden, G Agger (both Whittlesey Manor), P Bailey (Blackstones) lost 30-37; T Smith (Blackstones), A McNaughton (Wittering), J Holroyd (Stamford Town) won 29-25.

VICTORY AT LAST FOR NEWTON TEAM

Finally Northants Newton team – who had also been on a three match losing streak – finally had something to cheer, taking 20 of the 22 points available at home to Hunts at City of Peterborough.

With a steady accumulation of points throughout the 31-end, two-bowl triples match over six rinks, it was a good morale booster for the team’s final game against Norfolk on July 6.

While the Conservative/Peterborough and District combination of Andy Dyer, Tony Kemp and Brian Bassam took the rink honours convincingly 41-15 for the second consecutive week, the only defeat came on Malcolm Squires rink – with Martin Stokes and Cliff Watson – who got within two shots before losing 24-23.

Results (Northants names only):

Newton Trophy ( at City of Peterborough): Northants 180 (20pts) Hunts 137 (2).
J Clipston (P&D), P Jessop (West Ward), F Richardson (CoP) won 28-25; M Stokes (Balckstones), C Watson (P & D), M Squires (CoP) lost 24-33; D Corney (P & D), Z Brown, D Noble (P & D ) won 29-18; A Dyer, T Kemp (Conservative), B Bassam (P & D) won 41-15; D Roberts (Market Deeping), M Linnell (WM), R Strong (CoP) won 28-25;
L Sharp (Yaxley), M Greaves, Alec Emery (P&D) won 30-21.

Northants Donald Steward team ahead of their win over Norfolk at Barnack (image is only low resolution)

Northants Silver Jubilee Vase team before their match with Norfolk at City of Peterborough BC.

WITH THE KETTON green still unfit after the recent deluge, Northants Women’s Bowling Federation switched its Donald Steward Trophy match against previously, unbeaten Norfolk to Barnack – and caused a big upset.

After the visitors had scored convincing wins over North Cambs, Hunts and Suffolk to lead the table, they were promptly put in their place by Northants, playing their opening game of the season.

Despite the unfamiliar venue, the home side won by 26 shots and claimed all but two of the 18 points available.

Leading the way was the reshuffled rink of Terri Handley, Elizabeth Wallace and the experienced Julie Masters mastering the Barnack green with an impressive 29-12 win.

They kept their Norfolk opponents to just two shots in the last 15 of the 25-end match, a crucial factor in claiming the overall points.

Once they were 20 shots ahead from the tenth end, Northants kept their foot on the gas and never relinquished more than a 16-shot overall lead.

Rinks skipped by Gill King, Sue Moir and Gill Day also contributed to the points while, captain Joan Robinson also praised president and skip Chris Ford’s only losing rink.

“Everyone played their part and even the 15 shots Christine’s rink contributed was vital to the overall success. Every player made me very proud,” she added.

“This is my fourth year as captain and it has been a steep learning curve for everyone. But now we have a happy squad of players gelling together,” said Robinson, who picked out special praise for county secretary Terri Handley making her Donald Steward debut.

“She was very nervous at the start but led marvellously.”

The Barnack club was also praised for rallying round to produce a late change of venue.

Against Norfolk in the Silver Jubilee Vase at City of Peterborough, Northants won on only two rinks in a 4-14 defeat, scoring 100 shots, while conceding 122.

Rinks skipped by Myra Landsburgh and Hazel Bass were the points scorers.

The next match is for the Donald Steward team against North Cambs at Ketton on Wednesday June 26 (1pm).

Results (Northants names only):

Donald Steward Trophy (at Barnack): Northants 122 (16 pts) Norfolk 96 (2). Tina Tknklin, Liz Hext (Conservative) Sue Moir (Langtoft) won 25-18; Kath Browning, Marlene Osbourne, Gill King ( all Yaxley) won 28-26; Fiona Richardson (City of Peterborough), Wendy Harrold (Whittlesey Manor), Gill Day (CoP) won 25-17; Terri Handley (Deeping AS), Elizabeth Wallace (Ketton), Julie Masters (Parkway) won 29-12; Carol Warters, Shirley Suffling, Christine Ford (all Ketton) lost 15-23.

Silver Jubilee Vase (at City of Peterborough):Northants 100 (4) Norfolk 122 (14). J. Needham, L. Toms, M. Landsburgh won 28 – 19; M. Holden, M. Andrew, A. Northen lost 14 – 33; C. Grief, C. McCarthy, H. Bass won 25 – 18; V. Slater, A. Cox, V. Hempsell lost 18 – 22. J. Cooper, V. Du’Kett, W. Humphreys lost 15-30.

Northants Federation bowlers complete their home fixtures in the Adams and Newton Trophy inter-county competitions on Saturday (June 22) with the respective visits of Hunts to Blackstones and City of Peterborough (2pm).

Adams captain Jon Earl faces some difficult team selection following defeats by Suffolk and Lincs but Newton captain Cliff Watson has confirmed he will step in for the unavailable Richard Allam in a rink skipped by Malcolm Squires.

The Adams team is likely to be selected from J Earl (capt); W Morris, M Pye, T Fielding; B Martin, S Harris, M Dolby; S Roden, G Agger, P Bailey; T Smith, A McNaughton, J Holroyd; R Stevens, B Warters, P Buckley; P Dalliday, M Humphreys, A Warrington.

Newton team: Jeff Clipston, Fred Richardson,Peter Jessop; Dave Roberts,Mick Linnell, Roger Strong; Andy Dyer, Tony Kemp ,Brian Bassam; Les Sharp,Mick Greaves, Alec Emery; Martin Stokes, Cliff Watson, Malc Squires; Dave Corney, Zac Brown and Dick Noble.

JIM FORSYTH DIES AGED 68

Jim Forsyth a former Peterborough & District Indoor bowler died on Sunday June 16. He was 68.

He was an exceptionally good lead playing with his Jeff Newson and won many county and individual honours in the 1980s and ’90s. For several years he was treasurer of Crowland Bowls Club.

Northants Federation’s Adams Trophy team – winners of the competition in 2015 – suffered its second successive defeat in the current campaign on Saturday. This time Lincolnshire inflicted an 18-4 points mauling following last week’s 19-3 loss at home to holders Suffolk.

Despite the recall of several players on Middleton Cup duty last week or previously unavailable, on a green that played into the hands of the more familiar home players, Northants quickly found themselves 24 shots adrift overall by 10 ends and 64-95 behind five ends later.

They rallied briefly to cut the deficit to just 16 by the 25th end thanks chiefly to a burst of scoring by rinks skipped by Martyn Dolby, Lee Welsford and Simon Law but the Lincolnshire side in which Jonathan West, Trevor Bannister and newly appointed deputy junior president Paul Hudson were outstanding, finally ran out winners by 29 shots.

At Grantham, Northants’s Newton Trophy team lost 191-161, claiming just five of the 22 points at stake with two rink wins and a draw.

However, captain Cliff Watson said: “It was a slightly better result for us (than experienced against North Cambs and Suffolk) but still lacking the morale-boosting team win.”

On a cold and wet day at Grantham Bowls, an excellent facility new to the Newton side, some players, he said, adapted well after a very shaky first five ends and after 20 ends Northants were only one shot adrift.

“That was the high point,” he added ” and it was downhill after that apart from Brian Bassam’s rink whom, with Conservative’s Andy Dyer and Tony Kemp, stuck to their task to claim two vital points (37-21).

Bassam’s clubmate Alec Emery also managed to save his rink on the last end to win by three, while county president Dick Noble scrambled a final shot to claim a draw on the final end.

“Hopefully our last home game in a fortnight against Hunts will provide us with that elusive win.”

Results (Northants names only):

Adams Trophy (at Burton House, Boston): Lincolnshire 180 (18 pts) Northants 151 (4). Brian Martin (Parkway), Stephen Harris, Martyn Dolby (both Blackstones) won 38-15; Paul Dalliday (Parkway), Bob Warters (Ketton), Simon Law (P) won 31-22; Steve Roden (Whittlesey Manor), Tom Fielding (B), Lee Welsford (WM) lost 22-24; Mick Humphreys, Jon Earl, Adam Warrington (all B) lost 16-45; Neil Wright (P), Graham Agger (WM), Peter Brown (WM) lost 18-40; Roger Stevens (WM), John Holroyd (Stamford Town), Paul Buckley (B) lost 26-24.

Newton Trophy (at Grantham): Lincs 191 (17) Northants 161 (5). Richard Allam (Stamford Town), Martin Stokes (Blackstones) Malcolm Squires (City of Peterborough) lost 24 – 44; Jeff Clipston (Peterborough & District) Peter Jessop (WestWard), Fred Richardson (CoP) lost 18 – 28; Dave Corney P & D), Zac Brown & Dick Noble (both WM) drew 30 – 30; Les Sharp (Y), Mick Greaves and Alec Emery (both P & D) won 32 – 29; Andy Dyer, Tony Kemp (both Conservative), Brian Bassam (P&D) won 37 – 21; Dave Roberts (Market Deeping), Mick Linnell, Roger Strong (WM) lost 20 – 39.

Ahead of Northants Women’s Federation’s series of county matches in the Donald Steward Trophy and Silver Jubilee Vase, Ketton’s Christine Ford staged her President’s Day at her home club at which more than 30 bowlers attended.

As part of their 45th anniversary celebrations, Ketton Bowls Club will host matches in the Donald Steward competition against North Essex (June 12 at 1pm), Norfolk (June 19) and North Cambs (June 26). The team will be away to Suffolk and Hunts on July 3 and 10 respectively.

The Donald Steward team to play North Essex is: Fiona Richardson, Gill Day, Linda Darani ( all City of Peterborough); Carol Warters, Shirley Suffling, Christine Ford ( all Ketton); Tina Tinklin, Liz Hext, Sheila Craig ( all Conservative BC); Kath Browning, Marlene Osbourne, Gill King ( all Broadway, Yaxley); Norma Squires (CoP), Elizabeth Wallace (Ketton), Julie Masters (Parkway). Reserves: Terri Handley (Deeping), Sue Moir (Langtoft), Myra Landsburgh (CoP). Captain: Joan Robinson (Yaxley).

The Silver Vase team will host Norfolk at City of Peterborough on June 19 and visit Suffolk and Hunts on July 3 and 10.

The Silver Vase team is: Joyce Needham (Yaxley), Maggie Holden (Ketton), Carol Grief (Crowland); Pat Collicott (Deeping BA), Margaret Andrews (Barnack), Linda Toms (Conservative); Pearl O’Brien (Langtoft), Ann Northen (Langtoft), Hazel Bass (Yaxley); V Slater (Crowland), J Cooper, Angela Cox (Langtoft); Val Du’Kett (Ketton), Viv Hempsall (Yaxley), Wendy Humphreys (City of Peterborough) . Res Judy Ford (Yaxley), C McCarthy. Captain , Ann Cooper (Yaxley).

Mrs Ford is pictured with her guests at Ketton, which helped to raise funds for the NWBF.

Former national inter county Federation winners Northants begin their Adams Cup campaign on Saturday (June 1) with the visit of defending champions Suffolk to the Blackstones green in Stamford (2pm).

It has been a difficult build up for Northants captain Jonathan Earl with several of his first-choice players either on holiday or committed elsewhere. But he is confident, with home advantage, the county can put a dent in their visitors’ aspirations.

Among those recalled to the team are Trevor Smith (Blackstones) and Brian Martin & Howard Shipp (Parkway) while Wittering’s Ally McNaughton (Wittering) makes his debut alongside Earl.

The team is: Brian Martin (Parkway), Stephen Harris & Martyn Dolby (both Blackstones); Steve Roden (Whittlesey Manor), Tom Fielding (Blackstones) , Lee Welsford (Whittlesey Manor); John Holroyd (Stamford Town), Graham Agger & Martin Welsford (both Whittlesey Manor); Howard Shipp (Parkway), Paul Bailey & Adam Warrington (both Blackstones); Bob Warters (Ketton), Mick Humphreys & Paul Buckley (both Blackstones); Trevor Smith (Blackstones), Ally McNaughton (Wittering), Jon Earl (Blackstones).

The Northants Newton Trophy side host 2018 champions Suffolk simultaneously at City of Peterborough BC (2pm) hoping to recover some pride from last week’s home defeat by North Cambs.

Having reached the final of the Newton Trophy just two years ago, Northants Federation’s second string were looking for a good start to the 2019 campaign against a North Cambs outfit able only to field one team in the Federation championships and in recent years the whipping boys in the top Adams division.

However, under new rules, the team which normally gathers its players from the Kings Lynn, Downham Market and Wisbech area, was rejuvenated in its first season among the county reserve teams of Norfolk, Hunts, Suffolk, Lincs and Northants.

Playing an aggressive style of bowls that at times caught Cliff Watson’s team off guard, North Cambs captured all six two-bowl triples rinks, stacking up a 53-shot victory at the City of Peterborough club and claimed all 22 points.

Commented a shocked Watson: ” I have just come from a dark place. The new North Cambs squad are going to do some damage now that they are competing against county second strings.

“I suspect there is going to be some bleating about single county teams competing in the Newton (traditionally for reserve sides) when the national annual meeting comes round but, though we didn’t play badly overall, we got beaten by players attacking and trailing the jack.”

Even the combination of Peter Brown – who has elected to join the Hunts EBA Middleton Cup campaign, with occasional sorties alongside his son Zac and Dave Corney in the Newton squad, couldn’t stop the Cambs rampage, losing 24-25.

Elsewhere there was a narrow 24-27 defeat for new cap Dave Roberts, Brian Bassam and Roger Strong.

This weekend Northants entertain Suffolk in the Newton at City of Peterborough, while the Northants Adams team hosts Suffolk at Blackstones.

Result (Northants names only):

Newton Trophy: Northants 136 (0) North Cambs 183 (22). Richard Allam, Martin Stokes and Malc Squires lost 24 – 30; Dave Roberts, Brian Bassam and Roger Strong lost 24 – 27; Andy Dyer, Tony Kemp and Dick Noble lost 18 – 35; Les Sharp, Mick Greaves and Alec Emery lost 20 – 30; Dave Corney, Zac Brown and Peter Brown lost 24 – 25; Jeff Clipston, Peter Jessop and Fred Richardson lost 26 – 36.