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.

THE NBF will be operating next year without a President after no nominations for the prestigious role were received at the annual general meeting held at the Parkway Club.

Martyn Dolby’s two-year tenure as President ended at the AGM, but he agreed to remain on the county executive as chairman.

The absence of a President means that all presidential duties will have to be shared out among the county committee, such as the national finals at Lincoln and Skegness.

Also stepping down at the AGM was treasurer Les Sharp, a role he held for 11 years. He received an NBF life membership at the recent memorial match for Cliff Watson, but he is to continue as a member of the committee, where he is joined by Mick Porter (Crowland) and Dudley Smith (City of Peterborough).

Taking over the role as treasurer is Andy Cox, who will combine that role with being secretary/treasurer of the Peterborough League and secretary of the City of Peterborough club. He was previously the reporting accountant.

On the financial front, the county made a small profit of £117.90 during the financial year, leaving them with a balance of just over £7,000.

Dave Corney has moved up from captaining the Newton Trophy team to manage the affairs of the Adams squad, with Brian Bassam succeeding him as the Newton captain. The Derbyshire team captains are Simon Law, who guided Northants A to the title last season, and Dudley Smith, who replaces Ray Keating at the helm of the B team.

Election of officers:

Chairman, Martyn Dolby; Secretary, Melvyn Beck; Treasurer, Andy Cox; Match secretary, Graham Agger; Competition secretary, Melvyn Beck; Results secretary, Ally McNaughton; Minutes’ secretary, Linda Toms; Press officer and national delegate, Melvyn Beck; Captains – Adams, Dave Corney; Newton, Brian Bassam; Derbyshire A, Simon Law; Derbyshire B, Dudley Smith; Management committee, Les Sharp, Mick Porter Dudley Smith.

A number of rules were either introduced or amended, and these will come into force from the start of the indoor competitions .

New rule:

3 Arranging games

b) Midweek start times are 6.30pm or by mutual consent. Weekend start times by mutual consent.

Rule amendment:

b) If the first named player/team cannot contact their opponent within the rules then he/they shall contact the Results Secretary.

(The reference in the current rule about sending a letter has been removed)

Rule amendment

Dan Duffy Trophy

1. Each team shall consist of 12 bona fide members of the same affiliated club. Female members may be included.

(This removes the wording ‘but not playing as a rink). It now means that a rink of ladies is permissible.

New rule

Any player refusing to play when selected for either the Adams or Newton teams may be deemed unavailable for that match.

New rule

(Addition to un-started game)

If a home green is deemed unplayable and there is not sufficient time to play the match before the end of the round, then the match will be moved to the opponent’s green. If that green is not available, then the match shall be moved to a neutral green of an affiliated club with both players/teams sharing any rink fees incurred.

New rule

Playing games

j) Any player in singles, named player in pairs and triples or clubs in team events giving walkovers without good reason after they have progressed from their first match may be banned from that competition the following year.

Addition to dress for county finals

Club uniforms registered with the NBF executive committee are acceptable provided all members wear the same.

Addition to playing games

j) Ineligible player

If the disqualified team have played/won further games before the transgression, the competition committee shall set times beyond the given completion dates for the non-offending teams to complete rearranged games.

In the case of a county final, the non-offending team will be allowed to represent the county at the national finals.