NORTHANTS’ hopes of qualifying for the Newton Trophy final received a setback when they were beaten 187-154 away to Norfolk, who are now favourites to top the southern section.

Hoping to build on a two wins out of two, they managed just four points from their travels to Norwich, courtesy of rink wins for captain Dave Corney (31-20) and Phil Symonds (28-27).

They complete their programme at home to Hunts on Saturday, July 6 on the same day as Norfolk host Leicestershire, the deficit currently standing at six points, although Hunts are also in the picture following their win over leaders Suffolk, who have finished their fixtures and lead by just four points.

Meanwhile, the Adams Trophy team slipped to the bottom of the southern section following their 172-155 defeat away to North Essex.

Rink honours were shared at three apiece, but the profit from the wins for captain Ray Keating (41-20), Graham Agger (30-23) and Kevin Vinter (29-26) was not enough to cover the losses on the other three rinks.

The Adams team continue their programme away to Norfolk on Saturday (June 29).

Adams team: Martin Prudhoe Robert Heath, Roger Strong; Jeff Clipston, Mick Greaves, Ray Keating; Wayne & Owen Aspinall, Martyn Dolby; Tom Newman, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter; Stephen Harris, Ally McNaughton, Dudley Smith, Darren Middleton; Stephen Harris, Mark Pye, John Earl.

RESULTS

ADAMS TROPHY

NORTHANTS 155 (6), NORTH ESSEX 172 (16): (Northants rinks only):

Tom Newman, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter won 29-26; Jeff Clipston, Mick Greaves Ray Keating won 41-20; Ally McNaughton, Duncan Lee, Graham Agger won 30-23; Wayne Morris, Mark Pye, Darren Middleton lost 22-35; Martin Prudhoe, Robert Heath, Roger Strong lost 20-34; Stephen Harris, Tom Fielding, John Earl lost 13-34.

NEWTON TROPHY

NORTHANTS 154 (4), NORFOLK 187 (18): (Northants rinks only):

Ian Chilvers, Alec Emery, Paul Buckley lost 30-32; Andy Cook, Melvyn Beck, Dave Corney won 31-20; Les Sharp, Mick Porter, Paul Bailey lost 26-30; Andy Cox, Andy Dyer, Steven Shaw lost 17-47; Michael Humphreys, Jon Bailey, Adam Emery lost 22-26; Philip Burbridge, Martin Bailey, Phil Symonds won 28-27.

THE NWBF Donald Steward team suffered an agonising one shot defeat (106-107) against Norfolk at Acle, despite winning on three of the five rinks, but the Silver Jubilee Vase team left Martham pointless.

Rinks wins for the Steward team came from Chris Ford, for the second match running, Sue Moir and Myra Landsburgh, but they had to settle for just the six points to Norfolk’s 12.

The Vase team went down 79-125 with the rinks of Julie O’Neill and Jan McDougall both only going down by three shots.

The Steward team are back in action away to North Essex on July 2, while the Vase team conclude their three-match programme at home to Hunts on July 17.

RESULTS

DONALD STEWARD TROPHY

NORTHANTS 106 (6), NORFOLK 107 (12) – (Northants rinks only):

Rita Downs, J. Collishaw, Sue Moir won 24-17; Sally Albany, Karen Porter, Carol Grief lost 23-25; Terri Handley, Shirley Suffling, Liz Hext lost 13-23; Fiona Richardson, Penny Hart, Myra Landsburgh won 23-22; Elizabeth Wallace, Moira Holroyd, Chris Ford won 23-20.

SILVER JUBILEE VASE

NORTHANTS 79 (0), NORFOLK 125 (18) – (Northants rinks only):

Kate Heath, Marlene Osborne, Gill King lost 15-27; Linda Toms, Jessica Bolam, Julie O’Neill lost 17-20; Joyce Needham, J. Nolan, Linda Kemp lost 16-24; Miriam Hulbert, Hazel Bass, Val Du’Kett lost 17-33; Chris Ryan, Ann Northen, Jan McDougall lost 18-21.

THE NBF Newton Trophy team made it two wins out of two with a 180-158 victory away to Lincolnshire, but the Adams Trophy side playing the same county suffered a second heavy defeat in three matches.

Rink honours were shared at three apiece in the Newton fixture at Lincoln Moorlands, but a comprehensive 41-19 win for the rink of Craig Campbell, Jon Bailey and Adam Emery, coupled with wins for the rinks of Paul Bailey and Steven Shaw, provided a comfortable success in the end.

Meanwhile, the Adams team, playing at Boston, conceded 200 shots for the second time in three outings, even though they managed to win on three of the six rinks, courtesy of county president Martyn Dolby – his third win of the campaign -Roger Strong and Kevin Vinter.

The teams are next in action on Saturday, June 22, with the Adams team travelling to North Essex while the Newton team head to Norfolk.

Adams team: Martin Prudhoe, Robert Heath, Roger Strong; Tom Newman, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter; Ally McNaughton, Duncan Lee, Graham Agger; Jeff Clipston, Mick Greaves, Ray Keating; Wayne Morris, Mark Pye, Darren Middleton; Stephen Harris, Tom Fielding, John Earl.

RESULTS

ADAMS TROPHY

NORTHANTS 138 (6), LINCS 207 (16) – (Northants rinks only):

Mick Linnell, Dudley Smith, Darren Middleton lost 9-46; Duncan Lee, Ally McNaughton, Ray Keating lost 22-40; Jeff Clipston, Dave Henson, Mick Greaves lost 17-39; Wayne Morris, Mark Pye, Martyn Dolby won 32-30; Martin Prudhoe, Robert Heath, Roger Strong won 29-27; Neil Wright, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter won 29-25.

NEWTON TROPHY

NORTHANTS 180 (16), LINCS 158 (6) – (Northants rinks only):

Craig Campbell, Jon Bailey Adam Emery won 41-19; Ian Chilvers, Alec Emery, Paul Buckley lost 27-30; Andy Cox, Andy Dyer, Steven Shaw won 36-22; Dave Corney, Andy Cook, Melvyn Beck lost 31-34; Nick Corney, Martin Bailey, Brian Bassam lost 16-34; Les Sharp, Mick Porter, Paul Bailey won 29-19.

THE NWBF county teams opened their English Women’s Bowling Federation county championships with a double defeat at the hands of visiting Suffolk.

The Donald Steward Trophy team were beaten 91-125 at City of Peterborough, with Chris Ford’s rink the only winners, while the Silver Jubilee Vase team lost 102-140 at Yaxley even though they won on three of the five rinks, courtesy of Julie O’Neill, Gill King and Jan McDougall.

The teams are next in action away to Norfolk on June 17th.

RESULTS

DONALD STEWARD TROPHY

NORTHANTS 91 (2), SUFFOLK 125 (16): (Northants rinks only) –

Terri Handley, Shirley Suffling, Liz Hext lost 16-23; Fiona Richardson, Penny Hart, Myra Landsburgh lost 14-31; Elizabeth Wallace, Moira Holroyd, Chris Ford won 24-23; Rita Downs, Val Du’Kett, Sue Moir lost 15-25; Sally Albany, Karen Porter, Carol Grief lost 22-23.

SILVER JUBILEE VASE

NORTHANTS 102 (6), SUFFOLK 140 (12): (Northants rinks only) –

Miriam Hulbert, Sue Seed, Sue Mansbridge lost 9-50; Linda Toms, Linda Kemp, Ann Northen lost 12-28; Chris Ryan, Caroline Bruc, Jan McDougall won 28-25; Joyce Needham, Karen Mercer, Julie O’Neill won 24-19; Emma Providence, Marlene Osborne, Gill King won 29-18.

BELOW The Northants and Suffolk teams line up before the Donald Steward Trophy fixture at City of Peterborough.

THE NBF Adams Trophy team bounced back from the previous week’s drubbing by Suffolk to defeat newly-promoted North Cambs 180-155 at March Town.

There were wins for the rinks of county president Martyn Dolby (37-25), Graham Agger (33-21) and Roger Strong (29-18), plus a draw for team captain Ray Keating (30-30) which enabled Northants to collect 17 of the 22 points on offer.

RESULT

NORTHANTS 180 (17), NORTH CAMBS 155 (5) – (Northants rinks only):

Wayne Morris, Mark Pye, Martyn Dolby won 37-25; Jeff Clipston, Mick Greaves, Ray Keating drew 30-30; Ally McNaughton, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter lost 25-28; Duncan Lee, Mick Linnell, Darren Middleton lost 26-33; Martin Prudhoe, Robert Heath, Roger Strong won 29-18; Trevor Smith, Dudley Smith, Graham Agger won 33-21.

Both the Adams and Newton teams are in action away to Lincolnshire on Saturday (June 8), with the latter hoping to build on their opening day win against Suffolk.

Adams team: Wayne Morris, Mark Pye, Martyn Dolby; Jeff Clipston, Mick Greaves, Ray Keating; Duncan Lee, Mick Linnell, Darren Middleton; Martin Prudhoe, Robert Heath, Roger Strong; Neil Wright, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter; Trevor Smith, Dudley Smith, Ally McNaughton.

Newton team: Ian Chilvers, Alec Emery, Paul Buckley; Craig Campbell, Jon Bailey, Adam Emery; Andy Cox, Andy Dyer, Steven Shaw; Dave Corney, Andy Cook, Melvyn Beck; Les Sharp, Mick Porter, Paul Bailey; Nick Corney, Martin Bailey, Brian Bassam.

NBF county teams had mixed fortune against visiting Suffolk in the opening round of the English Bowling Federation county championships for the Adams and Newton trophies.

While the Newton team opened with a 174-163 success at Whittlesey Manor, the Adams team suffered a 203-130 defeat at Blackstones.

Rink honours were shared at three apiece in the Newton clash, but a dominating 34-16 victory for the rink of Les Sharp, debutant Mick Porter and Paul Bailey, plus wins for the rinks of Paul Buckley (32-29) and Adam Emery (30-26) enabled the hosts to claim the bulk of the points.

Over at Blackstones, the rink of county president Martyn Dolby, which included fellow host club players Stephen Harris and Mark Pye, provided the only bright spot for the Adams team with a 36-22 victory that denied Suffolk a clean sweep.

The Adams team are back in action on Saturday (June 1) away to North Cambs at March, while the Newton team return to action the following Saturday (June 8) away to LIncs.

Adams team: Jeff Clipston, Mick Greaves, Ray Keating; Ally McNaughton, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter; Wayne Morris, Mark Pye, Martyn Dolby; Duncan Lee, Mick Linnell, Darren Middleton; Martin Prudhoe, Robert Heath, Roger Strong; Trevor Smith, Dudley Smith, Graham Agger.

RESULTS

ADAMS TROPHY

Northants 130 (2), Suffolk 203 (20) – (Northants rinks only):

Neil Wright, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter lost 24-31; Trevor Smith, Graham Agger, Ray Keating lost 26-30; Stuart Agger, Mick Greaves, Roger Strong lost 17-39; Jeff Clipston, Dudley Smith, Roger Martin lost 11-43; Stephen Harris, Mark Pye, Martyn Dolby won 36-22; Duncan Lee, Ally McNaughton, Mick Linnell lost 16-38.

NEWTON TROPHY

Northants 174 (16), Suffolk 163 (6) – (Northants rinks only):

Nick Corney, Martin Bailey, Brian Bassam lost 28-34; Andy Cox, Dave Corney, Steven Shaw lost 23-29; Les Sharp, Mick Porter, Paul Bailey won 34-16; Philip Burbridge, Melvyn Beck, Phil Symonds lost 27-29; Craig Campbell, Peter Brown, Adam Emery won 30-26; Ian Chilvers, Alec Emery, Paul Buckley won 32-29.

THE second annual challenge match between the NBF and Hunts Bowls for the Malcolm Squires and Dick Noble Memorial Shield ended in a 128-114 victory for Hunts at Parkway despite the NBF winning on four of the six rinks.

New Adams team captain Ray Keating paraded most of his team for the upcoming match against Suffolk, while there were several members of the Middleton Cup squad in the Hunts line-up.

There were four triples matches and two fours and their were NBF wins for the rinks of Ray Keating, Roger Strong, Dave Smith and Roger Martin.

Sherin Noble and Norma Squires were on hand to present the shield to Hunts team manager Bob Morton.

RESULT

NBF 114, HUNTS 128 (NBF rinks first)

Michael Humphreys, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter 16, Paul Dalliday, James Harford, Simon Law 29; Duncan Lee, Ally McNaughton, Roger Martin 21, Tom Newman, Tom Fielding, John Earl 20; Stuart Agger, Neil Wright, Mick Linnell 14, Matt Nickerson, Adam Emery, Toby Furzeland 27; Wayne Morris, Mark Pye, Dave Smith 27, Robbie Coleman, Ryan O’Flanagan, Joe Randall 18; Trevor Smith, Mark Prudhoe, Graham Agger, Ray Keating 20, T. Anderson, Sam Brugnoli, Mac May, Harry Ward 19; Jeff Clipston, Dave Henson, Mick Greaves, Roger Strong 16, Mike Robertson, Trevor Murray, Brian Martin, Kierran Murray 15.

BELOW: Sherin Noble and Norma Squires are pictured with the Malcolm Squires and Dick Noble Memorial Shield with Adams team captain Ray Keating, Hunts team manager Bob Morton and NBF president Martyn Dolby.

NORTHANTS open their inter-county championship programme on Saturday (May 25) with the visit of Suffolk.

New Adams Trophy team manager Ray Keating has announced his first team for what is always one of the toughest matches of the season, the venue being Blackstones (2.00pm)

Adams line-up: Jeff Clipston, Dudley Smith, Roger Martin; Trevor Smith, Graham Agger, Ray Keating; Stephen Harris, Mark Pye, Martyn Dolby; Michael Humphreys, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter; Stuart Agger, Mick Greaves, Roger Strong; Duncan Lee, Ally McNaughton, Mick Linnell.

Dave Corney’s Newton Trophy team for the match against Suffolk at Whittlesey Manor contains only 13 of last year’s squad, with several new faces including Ian Chilvers, Mick Porter, Phil Symonds and Craig Campbell.

Newton team: Ian Chilvers, Alec Emery, Paul Buckley; Craig Campbell, Jon Bailey, Adam Emery; Andy Cox, Andy Dyer, Steven Shaw; Phil Burbridge, Brian Bassam, Phil Symonds; Les Sharp, Fred Richardson, Paul Bailey; Mick Porter, Martin Bailey, Melvyn Beck. Res: Dave Corney.

THE John Dickenson Memorial match returned to the calendar this season after a year’s absence and it resulted in a 116-107 victory for hosting club Whittlesey Manor against an NBF representative team featuring mostly players from Dave Corney’s Newton Trophy squad.

John began his bowling career locally at Whittlesey Manor before moving on to South Ward and Peterborough & District and became a prominent figure in the English Bowling Federation movement, both within the county and nationally, where he served as president and chairman.

His widow, Mary, was on hand with county president Martyn Dolby to present the shield to Whittlesey Manor captain Peter Brown.

RESULT

Whittlesey Manor 116, NBF Select 107 (Manor rinks first):

Bill Stark, Zack Brown, Peter Brown 21, Howard Shipp (guest), Philip Burbridge, Phil Symonds 17; Derek Noble, Phillip Makepeace, Graham Agger 25, Mick Porter, Nigel Barnes, Brian Bassam 12; Dick Fielding, Paul Hunter, Tom Fielding 13, Steve Lander, Alec Emery, Paul Buckley 14; Nick Corney, Tony Mace, Mick Linnell 18, Andy Cox, Andy Dyer, Steven Shaw 23; Fred Barker, Stephen Harris (guest), John Earl 22, Les Sharp, Dave Corney, Paul Bailey 18; Stuart Agger, Michael Humphreys, Tom Newman 17, Andy Cook, Jon Bailey, Melvyn Beck 23.

Below: County president Martyn Dolby joins Mary Dickenson as she presents the John Dickenson Memorial Shield to Whittlesey Manor captain Peter Brown.

THE venue for the NWBF county selection day on Wednesday, May 8 (2.00pm) has been moved from Conservative to Peterborough & District.