Federation finals: Day by day

Post date: Apr 19, 2016 11:45:07 AM

WEDNESDAY

With Northants bowlers failing to shine in the early rounds of the triples events it was up to the veterans to show their talents as Martyn Dolby and women's president Joan Robinson took to the carpet in their respective singles.

For Dolby, chasing his fourth singles title in as many weeks, it was an end rink challenge against Derbyshire's Brian Shepperson. He took command early on with an 8-1 lead, only to drop a maximum four count. But he immediately hit back with four of his own and added steady counts before nailing the jack twice to settled it 21-5.

Knowing he would face Nottingham legend Dave Adams on Rink 8 in the morning, he was keen to see how Robinson was coping on one of the trickiest rinks with her tight-running bowls against another Notts play Jenny Humphries.

She held a 10-7 lead at one stage but at 15 apiece, Humphries began to find her line and length to stretch to a 19-15 lead and eventually ran out a deserving 21-17 winner.

Robinson has a second chance to shine in the Senior singles at 5pm on Thursday when the highlight of the day will be the men's pairs clash at high noon between Northants' Nick Wilkie and Joe Randall against Lindsay Swannell and world singles No.1 Nicky Brett, representing Hunts.

At the same time Dolby will link up with Stamford clubmate Christine Ford in the mixed pairs against Derbyshire's Russell Robinson and P Marples.

TUESDAY

An amazing comeback by the Northants's women's triple of Jan Want, Shirley Suffling and Christine Ford saw them storm into the second round at the national Federation championships at Newark IBC, writes Bob Warters.

Trailing Humberside 2-12 at the 10-end mark, Ford and Suffling switched positions, as the Federation rules allow, and it transformed the game. Still behind by two at 15 ends they scored three successive five counts to lead 27-14 and earn a second round tie with Derbyshire who beat Cleveland 27-11.

Sadly, no such fortune for fellow Stamford bowlers Stephen Harris, Cliff Watson and Peter Edwards who came up against one of the pre-tournament triples favourites from Derbyshire - Gary Shepperson, England international Ashley Clipston and skip Russell Robinson, all of whom drew superbly to win 29-6.

Stamford's mixed triple - Adam Warrington, Chris Ford and Martyn Dolby - never came to grips with the sluggish rink against Northumberland couple Bill and Annie Lennie and Herbie Blacklock and tumbled out 13-19.

They held a slender 12-10 lead after 15 ends but when Mrs Lennie moved to skip it was finally put beyond reach with counts on five successive ends.

There was more disappointing news when Northants's women's triple failed to reproduce the form that had earn them a second round spot. In energy-sapping conditions, they were soundly beaten by Derbyshire 5-28 when they conceded with still six ends to play.

To end a less than satisfactory day for Northants, Stamford's Derek King was matched against one of the region's most talented performers - Jonathan West from Boston, representing Lincs in the four-bowl singles.

Both players found the early ends a struggle before West found his line and length and stretched a narrow 6-5 lead to an eventual 21-7 runaway victory.

One of the surprises of the day was the defeat of last year's men's rinks runners-up from Hunts by a young Durham trio.