Federation bowlers qualify for national final

Post date: Mar 4, 2019 12:23:07 PM

For the first time more than a decade Northants Bowling Federation has qualified for the indoor final of the inter-county Derbyshire Trophy to be played at Newark IBC in April.

The 12-2 victory by James Harford's Northants 'A' side over Norfolk last week at Stamford IBC (105-70) proved good enough to clinch their qualification from the Southern Section after Norfolk just failed at Lincoln IBC to gain enough points to overtake them.

Norfolk needed a full house of 14 points against a Lincs side weakened by absentees from the host Lincoln IBC venue competing in the Egham Trophy victory over Tye Green (Harlow) at Peterborough but could only manage an 11-3 win - albeit by more than 40 shots overall.

Boston skip Jonathan West steered his rink to an outstanding two points after trailing with only a handful of the 25 ends remaining, while Lincoln's Chris Gill snatched a further vital point in a draw.

Lincs had needed just ten points themselves to qualify but late changes had further hampered selection.

Northants A, who beat Durham in the 2006 final, finished with 52 points from their five matches followed by Norfolk (49), Lincs (45), Hunts (40), North Cambs (14) and Northants B (10).

In the final they will play Nottinghamshire, who beat Northumberland 12-2 on their home surface at Newark.

Said Northants A captain James Harford: " We are thrilled to have qualified for the first time since 2006. A massive thanks to the squad who have stuck by me over the last few years. Being captain can be a thankless job unless the end product of qualification is reached.

"To beat both Lincs and Norfolk shows as a county we are more than good enough to compete against bigger ones. The main job now is to finish the process and playing Nottinghamshire on their own patch will not be easy.

"However I am confident that with the players we have available we are giving ourselves a great chance to achieve a major trophy in the county's 90th anniversary year."

FEDERATION COMPETITION UPDATES

Martyn Dolby will defend his Over 65 singles title after reaching the final with a hard-earned 21-17 defeat of Bob Warters. Dolby led by ten at one stage but Warters cut the gap to 15-16 before Dolby final clinched an epic battle.

On an adjoining rink the Holroyd family - John and Moira with daughter Helen - reached the mixed triples final by defeating Peter and Glenys Edwards and Cliff Watson 21-15.

Glenys and Moira also joined forces in the women's pairs but lost to Marlene Osbourne and Hazel Bass at Whittlesey 19-6.

Former carpet-bowler Paul Dalliday reached the final of the four-bowl singles by beating Richard Allam 21-13. In a high quality drawing game he led 13-6, 16-9 and 19-13 before finally getting over the line with successive singles. He is due to play either James Harford or Martyn Dolby.

Alan Romaine and Carol & Bob Warters reached the Federation mixed triples final against the Holroyd family with a 20-13 defeat of Fiona Richardson, Neil Wright and Simon Law.

They led 10-1 after nine ends but when Law shuffled his side to play lead they staged a 13-14 comeback and killed an end before conceding four shots in the last four ends.

Adam Warrington, Jon Earl and Martyn Dolby have reached the final of the Northants Federation Triples after a high quality clash with James Harford, Simon Law and Tristan Morton.

They led 9-6 and 15-12 but the turning point came at the 18th of the 21 ends with a five count to lead 20-16.

Despite their rivals closing the gap to 20-19, a single in the last end was enough to see the Blackstones rink through to the final at Stamford on March 17.

Federation president Dick Noble earned his place in the finals with a 21-12 defeat of Alan Romaine at Peterborough in the Veterans singles.