Martyn Dolby
Roger Martin
Northants A and B ahead of their clash on Sunday
The team founded by long-serving official Malcolm Squires had trailed for much of the 25-end annual encounter played at Stamford IBA and looked to be heading for another successive defeat with just a handful of ends to play when the rinks of Graham Agger, Mick Linnell and John Holroyd picked up vital shots in this two-bowl triples format.
Mike Robertson's trio responded with four shots on the penultimate end but with all eyes on the tussle between Les Sharp, Neil Wright and Bailey against Mick Humphreys, Tony Scarr and Roger Martin, three shots on the last end was enough to secure a famous 90-89 overall victory for the 'B' side and eight of the 14 points at stake.
Both teams brought in players for their Derbyshire Trophy debuts including Stuart Agger, Andy Cox and Gary Dickenson for the 'B' team and Dusty Miller, Wayne Morris and Ally McNaughton for James Harford's squad and at 20 ends, it was a gamble picking a winner.
But in this topsy turvy encounter where qualification to play is based on the outdoor club you represent and more than county bragging rights were at stake, it was the underdogs who at last had their day.
Result: Derbyshire Trophy: Northants B 90 (8 pts) Northants A 89 (6). Northants B names first: Stuart Agger, Cliff Watson, Graham Agger beat Brian Martin, James Harford, Adam Warrington 29-18; Les Sharp, Neil Wright, Paul Bailey lost to Mick Humphreys, Tony Scarr, Roger Martin 21-25; Andy Cox, Mick Greaves, Mick Linnell lost to Dusty Miller, Ally McNaughton, Mike Robertson 22-27; Gary Dickenson, Brian Bassam, John Holroyd lost to Wayne Morris, Paul Dalliday, Simon Law, 18-19.
After an opening defeat at the hands of competition favourites Spalding, Stamford's mixed team secured their third successive Lincs County League (South) victory, defeating Skegness 'A' on their home surface 85-76, securing 10 of the 14 points available.
Dick and Christine Ford both skipped rinks to victory - 32-12 and 23-9 respectively - but credit to the other two rinks who amassed enough shots to claim the overall shots and points for their team.
Their next fixture is at home to Grantham on December 12.
Result: Lincs IBA Mixed League (South): Skegness 'A' 76 (2pts) Stamford 85 (10). Stamford names only: R Roberts, E Wallace, M Wallace, D Ford won 23-9; T Barwell, R March, A March, C Ford won 32-12; J Brennan, A Lonslow, D Mackie, J Little,lost 12-30; J Suffling, V Du'Kett, S Suffling, K White lost 18-25.