Following successive defeats against Suffolk and Hunts, Northants claimed only their second Adams Trophy win of the season – in a one-sided victory at home to North Essex at the Blackstones green, intimately familiar to at least 10 of the 18 Northants players.<\/p>\n
Jonathan Earl’s squad desperately needed a confidence boost following two reversals in the last fortnight and got it at the visitors’ expenses clawing back 19 points from a miserable season from the 22 available, with four winning rinks and a draw.<\/p>\n
In the 239-132 overall shots victory, only the rink of Howard Shipp, Paul Bailey and Adam Warrington failed to collect points and were behind all the way in a 30-31 defeat. The Whittlesey Manor trio of Steve Roden, Graham Agger and Peter Brown shared 58 shots over 31 ends.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere Neil Wright, the returning John Holroyd and Mick Duell took the rink honours with 48-10 win, their shots difference clinching it by one from Roger Martin’s rink (49-12) and by seven from Earl (49-18).<\/p>\n
Paul Buckley’s Blackstone rink led by 11 with six ends to go but were given a scare late on to squeeze home by just two shots.<\/p>\n
Northants Adams entertain Norfolk on Saturday at Blackstones (July 7), while the Newton Trophy team are at City of Peterborough.<\/p>\n
Results (Northants names only):<\/p>\n
Adams Trophy (at Blackstones): Northants 239 (19 pts) North Essex 132 (3). h Shipp, P Bailey, A Warrington lost 30-31; J Corney, M Humphreys, R Martin won 49-12; S Roden, G Agger, P Brown drew 29-29; N Wright, J Holroyd, M Duell won 48-10; S Harris, M Dolby, J Earl won 49-18; W Morris, T Fielding, P Buckley won 34-32.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Following successive defeats against Suffolk and Hunts, Northants claimed only their second Adams Trophy win of the season – in a one-sided victory at home to North Essex at the Blackstones green, intimately familiar to at least 10 of the 18 Northants players. Jonathan Earl’s squad desperately needed a confidence boost following two reversals in … <\/p>\n