Northants 'A' took a giant stride nearer retaining the Derbyshire Trophy they won earlier in the year for only the third time in their history, when they claimed all 14 points from their home match at Stamford against Hunts.

They won 115-70 and will now face their toughest tasks - two away matches in the New Year against Lincolnshire and Norfolk to complete their campaign, ideally needing two overall points wins to again reach the final at Newark in April.

But it will be tough on the new blue carpet at Lincoln and under poorly lit conditions at Gallow IBC at Fakenham.

Northants A were rarely in danger of not taking the overall points after Brian Martin, Bob Warters and Roger Martin raced into a 15-0 lead against Tom Swannell's trio inside the first five ends of two-bowl triples, while Paul Dalliday, Mick Humphreys and Simon Law led 6-2.

The two rinks kept up the pressure, eventually winning 40-14 and 25-20 respectively, with five-counts on the 19th and 20th ends.

Elsewhere the other two rinks were more evenly contested until the result was out of reach. 

Against Richard Stevens, the James Harford rink were held 10-10 until they recorded 17 shots in nine ends and could afford to concede successive shots on the last six ends to run out 25-21 winners. Martyn Dolby's triple won by 10 with a late flourish.

For Northants B at home to a strong Lincolnshire side at Peterborough, the story was of almost total domination by the visitors.

Mick Linnell's rink - with John Holroyd and Cliff Watson - had a chance to stop the former winners' juggernaut as did president Dick Noble's trio - including Jeff Clipston and Brian Bassam. But they were both gradually overhauled 29-18 and 30-21 respectively.

Lincolnshire took all 14 points in a 122-71 overall shots victory.

Results (Northants names only):

Derbyshire Trophy (at Stamford): Northants A 115 (14 pts) Hunts 70 (0). W Aspinall, T Collins, J Harford won 25-21; R Allam, A Warrington, M Dolby won 25-15; B Martin, B Warters, R Martin won 40-14; P Dalliday, M Humphreys, S Law won 25-20.

Derbyshire Trophy (at Peterborough): Northants B 71 (0) Lincolnshire 122 (14). Melvyn Beck, Mick Greaves, Ray Keating lost 17-35; John Holroyd, Cliff Watson, Mick Linnell lost 18-29; Jeff Clipston, Brian Bassam, Dick Noble lost 21-30; Mike Ramsden, Malcolm Squires, Mick Duell lost 15-28.