Local flavour to Northants and Lincolnshire county successes

Post date: Jan 27, 2014 12:15:12 PM

Northants Bowling Federation's chances of securing a place in the finals of the Derbyshire Trophy finals were enhanced with a 130-118 defeat of North Cambs from matches played at Stamford and Wisbech on Sunday (Jan 26).

They emerged with four winning rinks in the two-bowl triples format - two at home and two away - but still face a stern test against Norfolk on February 16, when 2014 World Indoor singles finalist Mervyn King and his son Sam are rumoured to be included in the East Anglian visitors' away team at Stamford IBC.

Another solid performance at lead from Stamford's John Holroyd was the highlight of Northants' home leg, peppering the jack consistently as his rink held on to win against a late surge from N.Cambs 26-20.

However, former Northants bowler Nigel Eagle made it uncomfortable for Neil Wright, Paul Bailey and Martyn Dolby, who inter-changed, as Federation rules allow, in a bid to overcome their opposition's positive tactics but went down 14-28.

On Wisbech's slower surface, the all-Peterborough combinations adapted well and emerged with an overall 67-61 success, despite a late stumble from the rink skipped by England international Tris Morton.

Results (Northants names only)

Derbyshire Trophy: Northants 130 North Cambs 118. At Stamford - J Holroyd, B Warters, J Harford won 26-20; N Wright, P Bailey, M Dolby lost 14-28; N Wilkie, D Noble, S Law won 21-19. At Wisbech - H Shipp. J Randall, T Morton lost 21-23; B Martin, A Thurston, J Newson won 23-12; G Agger, B Lawrence, P Brown won 25-16.

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From the left:Bob Warters, Mike Ramsden, Keith Rippin,

Peter Edwards, Alan Romaine and Martyn Dolby.

Stamford bowlers have played a key role in Lincolnshire Over 60s team's recent successes over Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire, with Alan Romaine and Keith Rippin combining with Spalding's Mick Doulton and Maurice Elding to win their respective matches at Grantham and Melton 21-12 and 19-14.

In addition, Mike Ramsden, Bob Warters, Peter Edwards and Martyn Dolby won 36-17 and 20-17 as Lincs make a robust defence of their Senior Midland Counties League title and with one game to play need a win against Leicestershire on February 6 to secure the trophy again.

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In Lincolnshire county competitions, Stamford earned only a handful of home draws from several disciplines with Dolby and Sharon Bailey overcoming Ann Holmes and Richard Allam in the mixed pairs and club champions Peter Cox and Tony Barwell beating Spalding 21-16.

The rink of Mike Ramsden, Malcolm Cullingworth, Peter Banks and Cliff Watson lost 10-18 at Boston, while Stephen Harris, Wayne Morris and Paul and Martin Bailey lost 22-18 at Grantham.

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Stamford will be hosting an Under 18 Junior Open on March 23, sponsored by D&M Sports. Entry forms are available from www.stamfordindoorbowls.co.uk

The club will also host the initial stages of the Lincolnshire IBA Under 25 singles on February 23.

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Sixteen-year-old Stamford College student Stephen Harris led the local qualifiers in the EIBA Skills Challenge at Grantham at the weekend to earn a tilt at the regional finals at Melton on March 30.

After winning two of his Under 18 knock-out matches, he scored well in other disciplines including jack casting, drawing to the edge of the ditch and controlled weight shots.

Katie Bailey, Jay Travis-Jenner and Nathan Rigby also took part but failed to qualify.