BOTH Northants teams in the English Bowling Federation’s Derbyshire Trophy ended their five-match programmes with away defeats.

The A team handed the southern section title to Lincolnshire on a plate after losing 96-80 to Norfolk at Fakenham.

Four points adrift of Lincs going into match they managed only two points making the leaders’ final fixture away to Norfolk somewhat irrelevant.

The rink of Mike Robertson, Trevor Collins and Stephen Harris provided the one bright spot with a 28-21 victory.

Meanwhile, the B team suffered the same fate away to Hunts, gaining just two points in a 108-82 defeat courtesy of the rink of Richard Allam and brothers Martin and Paul Bailey, who won 24-20.

RESULTS

Northants A 80 (2), Norfolk 96 (12) – (Northants rinks only):

Paul Dalliday, Ollie Jeapes, Simon Law lost 21-26; Stuart Agger, Graham Agger, Peter Brown lost 15-25; Brian Martin, John Earl, Martyn Dolby lost 16-24; Mike Robertson, Trevor Collins, Stephen Harris won 28-21.

Northants B 82 (2), Hunts 112 (12) – (Northants rinks only):

Terry Corney, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter lost 20-24; Martin Prudhoe, Tom Newman, Ray Keating lost 23-32; Jeff Clipston, Cliff Watson, Mick Linnell lost 15-32; Richard Allam, Martin Bailey, Paul Bailey won 24-20.

SAD to report the sudden death of former Northants Women’s Bowling Federation president Jean Redhead at the age of 87.

She represented the county on numerous occasions and won the English Women’s Bowling Federation two-bowl triples title at Skegness in 1995 with Whittlesey Manor colleagues Wendy Lutkin and the late Molly Cole. She was also a member of the Whittlesey Town club.

The funeral service takes place at St Mary’s Church, Whittlesey, on Friday, March 3rd at 10.30am and after internment a wake will be held at the town’s Ivy Leaf Club.

DATES and venues for this season’s Adams and Newton matches have been confirmed with both teams having two fixtures away and three at home.

TIMETABLE

June 3 – Adams away to Suffolk at Leiston; Newton away to Suffolk at Laxfield.

June 10 – Adams away to Hunts at St Ives; Newton away to Hunts at Needingworth.

June 17 – Adams home to Lincs at Blackstones; Newton home to Lincs at Whittlesey Manor.

June 24 – Adams home to North Essex at Blackstones; Newton home to North Cambs at Whittlesey Manor.

July 1 – Adams home to Norfolk at Blackstones; Newton home to Norfolk at Whittlesey Manor.

A new fixture has been added to the calendar with the NBF facing Huntingdonshire Bowls at Whittlesey Manor on May 20 in what is hoped will become an annual event.

With Hunts having withdrawn from the Eastern Counties League, they are using matches against the Hunts EBF and the Northants EBF as trials for the Middleton Cup and under 25 squads and Northants will also use the fixture to prepare for their forthcoming county championship programme.

Northants and Hunts will between them purchase a shield which will be in memory of former NBF presidents Dick Noble and Malcolm Squires who sadly passed away last year.

As a result of this new addition to the county calendar, the annual John Dickenson Memorial Shield match between Whittlesey Manor and the NBF will now be staged on Saturday, August 12, a week before the national finals begin at Skegness.

FOLLOWING last year’s successful NWBF/NBF presentation luncheon at the Ellindon Banqueting Suite, the same venue has been retained for 2023 event on Sunday, September 17th.

And the good news is that last year’s price of £25.00 remains unchanged for a three-course meal with three choices for each course.

Menu and ticket details will be published at a later date.

THE Ladies v Gents indoor challenge match is being revived this season following a four-year absence from the calendar.

County presidents Shirley Suffling and Martyn Dolby will select and lead their respective teams into action at the Peterborough & District club on Sunday, April 2 at 2.00pm, with the Ean Eagle Challenge Trophy up for grabs.

It will take the form of a six rink, three-bowl triples contest with a buffet to close the proceedings.

NORTHANTS A’s hopes of reaching this season’s Derbyshire Trophy final hang by a thread following their 10-4 defeat away to southern section title rivals Lincolnshire, who are now in pole position.

Northants trail Lincs by four points after their 96-106 defeat with both teams concluding their programmes away to Norfolk, with Northants heading there on Sunday.

There were wins for the rinks of Peter Brown (34-14) and Tristan Morton (29-23), but they could not offset the heavy losses suffered by Simon Law (17-36) and Martyn Dolby (16-33).

RESULT

Northants 96 (4), Lincs 106 (10) – (Northants rinks only):

Stuart Agger, Graham Agger, Peter Brown won 34-14; Paul Dalliday, Mike Robertson, Simon Law lost 17-36; Brian Martin, John Earl, Martyn Dolby lost 16-33; Stephen Harris, Trevor Collins, Tristan Morton won 29-23.

Northants B also conclude their county championship programme on Sunday with a visit to Hunts.

Northants B: Jeff Clipston, Cliff Watson, Phil Afford; Terry Corney, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter; Richard Allam, Martin & Paul Bailey; Martin Prudhoe, Tom Newman, Ray Keating.

THE Northants teams are currently first and second in the southern section of the Derbyshire Trophy following the B team’s 100-82 victory away to North Cambs.

The A team have won all their three matches so far to lead the way with the B team gaining their second win in four matches, picking up 11 points from their short trip to March.

The rinks of Paul Bailey (37-10) and Kevin Vinter (25-17) led the way, with the rink of Phil Afford finishing all square at 21-21.

RESULT

Northants B 100 (11), North Cambs 82 (3) – (Northants B rinks only):

Jeff Clipston, Cliff Watson, Phil Afford drew 21-21; Martin Prudhoe, Mick Greaves, Ray Keating lost 17-34; Terry Corney, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter won 27-17; Richard Allam, Martin & Paul Bailey won 37-10.

NORTHANTS B captain Ray Keating has named an unchanged team for Sunday’s Derbyshire Trophy match away to North Cambs at March.

Northants B: Michael Humphreys, Tom Newman, Ray Keating; Richard Allam, Martin & Paul Bailey; Jeff Clipston, Cliff Watson, Phil Afford; Terry Corney, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter.

Meanwhile, Simon Law has announced an unchanged A team for their visit to Lincolnshire on Sunday, February 12 which could prove a pivotal match in their bid to win the southern section and qualify for the national final.

Northants A are currently top with three wins out of three, while Lincs have only played one match so far, but will have played two more before the clash.

Northants A: Trevor Collins, Adam Warrington, Tristan Morton; Brian Martin, John Earl, Martyn Dolby; Paul Dalliday, Mike Robertson, Simon Law; Stuart & Graham Agger, Peter Brown.

THIS season’s English Bowling Federation national indoor finals have been moved to the Lincoln club from the Newark club which is almost certain to close at the end of next month.

Rumours have been rife for some time about the future of the Newark club, and having had it confirmed that it is 90 per cent certain to close at the end of January, the EBF moved swiftly to re-direct April’s finals to the blue-carpeted Lincoln club.

The Lincoln club will offer the same services as provided by the Newark club – it will open at 8.00am each day for breakfast, hot rolls, tea and coffee etc; pre-booked lunches will be provided in two sittings (12.00 and 1.00pm) with a choice of two mains courses, plus a salad bar and refreshments will be available at the bar until 5.30pm.

There is a large free car park at the club and accommodation should be plentiful.

WINNERS of the NWBF raffle were Russell Prosser (£100), Ian Flack (£50), Oliver Hall-King (£25).