Northants share points and shots with Hunts

Post date: Dec 5, 2016 2:23:56 PM

Three Stamford IBC bowlers were part of the Northants Federation team which drew a thrilling match with Hunts in the EBF's Derbyshire Trophy 83-83 at Huntingdon IBC, also sharing the points 9-9.

Northants captain James Harford, making his 50th appearance for the county, had a chance to clinch it for his team with the last bowl of the match in his hand. But after opening a head in which he was three shots down to spring the jack, he had four feet to draw to for a decisive second shot but fractionally overplayed it.

Results (Northants names only):

Derbyshire Trophy (at Huntingdon IBC): Hunts 82 (9pts) Northants 82 (9). P Dalliday, P Afford, S Law won 21-17; H Shipp, N Wilkie, J Harford beat won 21-19; B Martin, B Warters (Stamford), N Wright lost 20-24; J Holroyd (Stamford) G Agger, R Martin (Stamford) lost 21-23.

Tony Barwell reached the second round of the EIBA Singles with a 21-18 defeat of J Meakins (Grantham) and Jay-Travis Jenner and Adam Warrington reached the third round of the pairs. They beat Stamford colleagues Mick Humphreys and John Holroyd 25-10, when Warrington trailed the jack for a closing five count.

Stephen Harris (19) has, sadly, not made the England squad to play the Under 25 Home Internationals against Wales, Scotland and Ireland next February.

He was part of the final England trial to find four rinks at Northampton losing by one shot on his rink, where he played in the unfamiliar No.2 role alongside players from St Neots and Wey Valley.

His friend Jonathan West (Boston) was selected as travelling reserve but Stephen was philosophical about his own performance.

He said that he thought did okay, especially in the second half of the trial and agrees that he has time on his side to make a breakthrough and will keep playing at the highest level.

In the meantime he has been selected for the Lincolnshire Liberty Trophy side against Yorkshire on December 17, playing No.2 on the rink skipped by England international Graham Smith and will play for the county's Under 25 Double rink against Durham.

Louise Harris (18) has qualified for the final stages of the Lincs 18 and Under singles alongside Stamford clubmate James Hebden. She won all four of her matches at Horncastle while James won two.

Eight year old Owen Aspinall won one of his qualifying matches but failed to make it through to the next stage as did Kalum Orme.

Shirley Suffling has been selected to represent Lincolnshire in the prestigious national inter county championship match against Yorkshire at Boston on Saturday, December 17.

Said Shirley: "I am honoured and proud to have been chosen to represent Stamford IBC in this team and hope I bowl to the best of my ability on the day."