NORTHANTS A ended their Derbyshire Trophy programme with a 93-72 home defeat at the hands of southern section champions Lincolnshire at Stamford.

With Lincs having already sewn up the title to qualify for the national final at Newark at the end of April, Northants were simply playing for pride in what was team captain James Harford’s last match in charge.

However, they were unable to provide him with a winning send-off, the only rink success coming from Richard Allam, Mal Smith and John Earl, who won 22-17, but Wayne Morris, Mike Robertson and Brian Martin only went down by one shot.

During his term as captain, James guided his team to national success in 2019 and they were beaten finalists last year.

RESULT

NORTHANTS A 72 (2), LINCS 93 (12) – (Northants rinks only):

Ally McNaughton, Paul Dalliday, James Harford lost 17-25; Tony Barwell, Dusty Miller, Martyn Dolby lost 13-30; Wayne Morris, Mike Robertson, Brian Martin lost 20-21; Richard Allam, Mal Smith, John Earl won 22-17.

FOR the first time in recent seasons Northants A will not contest the final of the English Bowling Federation’s Derbyshire Trophy they won for the third time in 2019, but they will have a big say on the outcome of the southern section title race.

With the exciting 12-2 defeat at Stamford of challengers Norfolk by one shot overall, they dented the visitors’ hopes of a place in the national final, and if they repeat that dose against leaders Lincs in a fortnight’s time, a place in the final will hang by a thread.

With the last of the 25 ends to be played, Northants A trailed by a shot for the first time in the match, but rinks skipped by Martyn Dolby, John Earl and Brian Martin managed to retrieve the situation and run out 88-87 winners to claim 12 of the 14 points on offer.

Northants captain James Harford was forced to make wholesale changes with the likes of Paul Dalliday, Simon Law and Tristan Morton on duty for Lincolnshire in the Liberty Trophy semi-finals, but his combination of replacements responded superbly to the task.

Meanwhile, Malcolm Squires, founder of the B team five years ago, was recognised for his commitment to the county cause stretching back almost four decades when he captained the team for the final time against Hunts at Peterborough & District, but sadly they could not give him a winning send-off as they went down 97-74.

Before the match another Federation stalwart, Cliff Watson, presented Malcolm and his wife Norma with gifts from the county to mark the occasion – Malcolm having played in the Derbyshire Trophy competition for close on forty years.

Northants actually led at the ten end stage of the match and were only five shots adrift with five ends remaining, but the strong Hunts team charged home over those closing ends, scoring 29 shots to 11, the solitary Northants win coming from Andy Cox, Mick Greaves and Mick Linnell thanks to a single on the last end.

RESULTS

NORTHANTS A 88 (12), NORFOLK 87 (2) – (Northants rinks only):

Ally McNaughton, Bob Warters, James Harford lost 25-16; Wayne Aspinall, Dusty Miller, Martyn Dolby won 26-22; Owen Aspinall, MIke Robertson, Brian Martin won 22-20; Richard Allam, Adam Emery, John Earl won 24-20.

NORTHANTS B 74 (2), HUNTS 97 (12) – (Northants rinks only):

Les Sharp, Jeff Clipston, Dudley Smith lost 28-20; Stuart Agger, Cliff Watson, Graham Agger lost 23-18; Andy Cox, Mick Greaves, Mick Linnell won 20-19; Gareth Dickenson, Melvyn Beck, John Holroyd lost 27-16.

WOULD you know what to do if someone collapsed on the bowls green or how to use a defibrillator if one was available?

Well now is your opportunity to receive tuition which as a result could possibly save someone’s life should such an situation arise .

Peter Brown, the NBF safeguarding and welfare officer, has organised a one-night CPR and Defibrillator training course at the Whittlesey Manor club on Friday, March 18th at 6.30pm.

He has linked up with the local charity Defibrillators for All, which was featured recently on the BBC’s One Show, and Deborah Slater, who featured in that programme, will be leading the course.

Each person attending will be charged £5.00 with the money going to the charity as they don’t charge for the tuition.

To book a place on the course, contact Peter Brown on 07921 172429 or email him on brownie10368@gmail.com.

APART from the ongoing search for a President, Northants Bowling Federation are also looking for captains to lead the Adams and Derbyshire A Trophy teams.

Appointing an Adams captain is a priority with the new outdoor season fast approaching. If it remains vacant, then a committee will be formed to deal with selection issues.

James Harford has decided to stand down as the Derbyshire A team captain at the end of this indoor season, but the appointment of his successor is less urgent, although one will need to be in place before the start of the 2022/23 indoor campaign.

Any players interested in either of these positions should contact the county secretary.

NORTHANTS B climbed off the bottom of the Derbyshire Trophy southern section and into joint second place following their 98-79 home win over North Cambs at Peterborough & District, but they have played more matches than all the other teams around them.

They won on three of the four rinks to collect 12 of the 14 points available to record their second victory of the season.

John Holroyd’s rink led the way with 29-13 victory, and there were also wins for the rinks of Paul Bailey (21-18) and Graham Agger (26-22).

RESULT

Northants B 98 (12), North Cambs 79 (2) – (Northants rinks only):

Les Sharp, Jeff Clipston, Paul Bailey won 21-18; Stuart Agger, Cliff Watson, Graham Agger won 26-22; Andy Cox, Mick Greaves, MIck Linnell lost 26-22; Gareth Dickenson, Melvyn Beck, John Holroyd won 29-13.

SAD to report the death on Christmas Eve of well-known local bowler Pat Collicott.

A member of the Deeping club, she also featured regularly in the Northants county women’s teams for a number of years.

The funeral service takes place at the Peterborough Crematorium on Tuesday, February 15th at 1.30pm.

THE Northants Bowling Federation men's and women's annual presentation luncheon moves to a new venue next year.

Following the disappointment of this year's luncheon, the county has acted swiftly to book the Ellindon Banqueting Centre at West Bretton, which forms part of The Masonic Centre. The date being Sunday, September 18th, 2022.

The Centre can accommodate up to 200 diners, has a separate lounge bar, and secured car parking at the rear for around 100 vehicles. It is next door to the Heltwate School.

It will be substantial traditional Sunday fayre, with a choice of three starters, three main courses and three desserts, plus tea and coffee, all for £25.00 – the same price as this year.

Vegetables etc will be served at the table and so you can have as little or as much as you like, and we understand the portions are more than generous.

NORTHANTS A hopes of winning the southern section of the Derbyshire Trophy for a third time in a row are all but over following a second defeat in three matches.

The latest setback came away to Hunts, who had lost their opening two matches, the final scoreline being 95-78 in favour of the home side, with Northants' only rink win coming from Richard Allam, Mike Robertson and Brian Martin, who won 28-19.

Northants' complete their programme in the New Year with home matches against Lincs and Norfolk.

RESULT

Northants A 78 (2), Hunts 95 (12) – (Northants rinks only):

Michael Humphreys, Adam Warrington, John Earl lost 30-12; Paul Dalliday, James Harford, Simon Law lost 22-17; Richard Allam, MIke Robertson, Brian Martin won 28-19; Tony Barwell, Dusty Miller, Martyn Dolby lost 22-21.

SAD to report the death of well-known local bowler Doris Flowers, a former president of Northants Women's Bowling Federation, following a short illness.

She has been a prominent figure on the local bowls scene for more than five decades, having started out at the now defunct South Ward before joining Peterborough & District, from where she enjoyed considerable success, both locally and nationally, before ending her long and distinguished career at Yaxley.

She was successful in both the federation and association codes, winning the English and British Isles fours titles at Leamington, and the national senior singles at Skegness. She was also part of the Peterborough & District team that twice won the national Top Club competition, and also played for a successful Hunts team in the Walker Cup.

She was a regular county player for both Northants and Hunts for many years, and was a multiple qualifier for both the nationals at Leamington and Skegness.

Her last notable success was winning the Reg Jackson Trophy at Skegness two years ago.

The funeral service takes place at the Peterborough Crematorium on Thursday, December 9th at 4.00pm.

For those who cannot attend, there will be a live streaming of the funeral on Event 1020204 – Doris Flowers.

Due to the positioning of the camera in the chapel, the visual tribute may not be clear when watching the webcast. The webcast will be available two to three hours after the service and for the following six days.

If anyone would like to leave a personal tribute to Doris, then email www.smithsfuneraldirectors.co.uk and click on the donate button. You will then be asked to enter Doris' name in order to gain access to her unique tribute.

NORTHANTS B suffered a second consecutive 14-0 defeat when they travelled to the blue carpeted Lincoln club to face Lincs, the final score being 123-61.

A slight improvement scorewise from the previous weekend's defeat in Norfolk, but at one stage late into the match it looked as though Northants might return with four points. 

Graham Agger's rink led by one shot entering the last of the 25 ends only to concede a double and lose 21-20, while John Holroyd's trio led 9-1 and 16-12, but were overhauled on the 21st end and went down 24-16.

RESULT

Northants B 61 (0), Lincs 123 (14) – (Northants rinks only):

Stuart Agger, Cliff Watson, Graham Agger lost 21-20; Les Sharp, Malcolm Squires, Paul Bailey lost 46-11; Andy Cox, Mick Greaves, MIck Linnell lost 32-14; Gareth Dickenson, Melvyn Beck, John Holroyd lost 24-16.