Success for Stamford bowlers in EBF national finals

FOR ONLY the third time in its history and in its 90th anniversary year, Northants Bowling Federation won the coveted Derbyshire Trophy - the English Bowling Federation's inter-county title.

In the final at Newark IBC on Sunday (April 28), Northants A - 11 of the 12 players concerned are members of Stamford IBC - beat Nottinghamshire 97-80 on their home surface over 25 enthralling ends. They won on three out of four rinks played to distinctive Federation rules in a match of two-bowl triples format.

Northants A had emerged full of confidence from a tough southern area qualifying group featuring Lincs, Hunts, North Cambs and Norfolk while Notts - who have indicated they also plan to introduce a B team next season - completed an unbeaten campaign against Northumberland, Durham and Humberside.

Led by captain James Harford, Northants quickly got into their stride, despite unfamiliar conditions of a slower carpet to that which all but one of the team are used to experiencing at Stamford IBC - and under overhead lighting that had most players peering through comparative gloom.

Overall Northants led by just six shots after five ends and only 35-30 after ten ends before stretching it to 59-45 with ten ends still to play by each rink.

Against the experienced Dave Adams, Simon Law was in outstanding form, inspiring his rink of Paul Dalliday and Harford to 15 shots in 11 ends and an eventual 24-19 victory.

Meanwhile, the wily Jeff Newson - a Derbyshire Trophy winner with Northants back in 1996 - showed that he had lost none of his old skills in the 23 intervening years. With Nick Wilkie and Trevor Collins, the trio ran out triumphant 25-16.

Elsewhere, Roger Martin's rink was finding it difficult coming to terms with the tricky conditions so as Federation rules allow, the Blackstones skip switched with lead Adam Warrington after 13 ends and it immediately paid dividends, cutting the scoreline to 17-19 by the 17th end. But a five count against them on the 20th end put them on the back foot. however, they held gamely to keep the overall deficit manageable.

In the end, the rink honours went to Bob Warters, Martyn Dolby, the two most senior members of the team, and Tristan Morton - who was a young title winner in 2006.

With the front pair in control for the most part - they led 10-2 and 14-7 before a dip in the middle, forced two devastatingly accurate killed ends by Morton combined with two superbly drawn saving shots to keep the rink's noses in front.

Normal service was resumed, however, from the 18th end and the trio's 12 shots in seven ends put the result and the match beyond doubt.

A delighted Northants president Dick Noble - a winning team member in 2006 - joined in the celebrations and said what a proud moment it was for him to be president on this momentous occasion.

Results (Northants names first):

Derbyshire Trophy final (at Newark): A Warrington, M Humphreys, R Martin lost to S Ayling, D Rouse, N Osbourn 21-31; N Wilkie, T Collins, J Newson beat D Colley,M Lenton,P Dayus 25-16; B Warters,M Dolby, T Morton beat M Walker, A Brownley, R Pearce 27-14; P Dalliday, J Harford, S Law beat A Rana, D Gascoyne, D Adams 24-19.

(Images courtesy of Malcolm Squires)

FOOTNOTE: During the individual championships earlier in the week, Helen Holroyd was the only county bowler to reach a final - the women's four-bowl singles. It was due to be played on Sunday morning against Anne Lennie (Northumberland). However, a previous commitment meant Ms Holroyd failed to appear.

Elizabeth Wallace, Louise Harris and Katie Bailey won the Lincs Women's indoor triples at Boston