Win for Northants but no Derbyshire Trophy certainty

Post date: Feb 15, 2015 5:58:28 PM

Northants hopes of qualifying for the National Federation Derbyshire Trophy finals at Newark in April, are dangling by a thread, despite beating two of the strongest teams in the competition - the holders Lincolnshire and the ever strong Norfolk.

The vagaries of the scoring system for this four, three-man rink format means that they sit on top of the Southern section table but when their two nearest rivals play each other next month at Lincoln, a win for either side could lead to Northants' demise.

Only by Norfolk winning on one rink and taking the overall points from the match (13-6) on the slick Lincoln carpet, can Northants hope to qualify for the final stages.

The good news ,however, is that former World champion Mervyn King, may be tempted to join son Sam in the Norfolk line-up, so familiar is he with the Lincoln surface from taking part in professional events there.

Northants had the chance to take all 18 points against Norfolk and almost guarantee their place but together with the match points (10), could claim only four rink points from two winning triples.

Brian Martin, Joe Randall and Jeff Newson emerged unbeaten throughout the four match campaign thanks to a 31-16 defeat of a Norfolk rink that included former Northants county regular Dick Noble.

Also in winning form were Nick Wilkie, Andy Thurston and Simon Law who led Sam King's rink 21-7 at one stage and finally triumphed 24-19.

Sadly Stamford bowlers featured on the two losing rinks.

John Holroyd, Bob Warters and Peterborough's James Harford looked to be seizing control at 20-14 but conceded 16 shots in the last eight ends to stumble 29-21. Stephen Harris, Roger Martin and Martyn Dolby led Ian Wones' rink 8-3 but lost seven successive ends to trail 15-7 before switching positions, as the rules allow, to enable Martin to trail the jack and level the scores at 15-all.

But a two on the final end enabled Wones to snatch the vital points at 20-19.

Scores (Northants names only)

Derbyshire Trophy (at Stamford): Northants 95 (14 pts) Norfolk 84 (4). J Holroyd, B Warters, J Harford lost 29-21; B Martin, J Randall, J Newson won 31-16; S Harris, R Martin, M Dolby lost 20-19; N Wilkie, A Thurston, S Law won 24-19.

Mixed Team

With the scores tied and with Stamford skips Alan Barnes and Keith Rippin facing counts against them with their last bowls in hand, it looked liked the club's mixed team in the Lincs County League Division One were going to let a vital home win against Long Sutton slip through their fingers.

But almost simultaneously the pair found the perfect shots to save the day - Barnes drawing in for shot when two down and Rippin drawing within inches to rob Long Sutton of a match winning four count.

They enabled Stamford to win by a slender 101-98 overall and claim a vital 12 points to keep their hopes alive of survival in the top division after a difficult start to the season.

Barnes, with wife Christine, Pam Barton and Tony Mackie were one of two winning rinks, but the honours went to the quartet of Dave Hudson, Carol Warters, Sue Moir and Dick Ford who romped to a 33-12 win.

Scores (Stamford names only):

Lincs Mixed League Division One. Stamford 101 (12) Long Sutton 98 (6). D Hudson, C Warters, S Moir, D Ford won 33-12; M Andrews, W Kettle, J Brennan, J Little lost 14-28; C Barnes, P Barton, T Mackie, A Barnes won 27-17; M Ramsden, J Dupree, C Ford, K Rippin lost 14-26; J Robinson, M Bloxham, B Acock, C Watson lost 13-15.

X. X. X

Leading 14-1 after nine ends, Peter Cox, Bob Warters and Roger Martin looked to be strolling to victory over Peterborough's Brian Martin, Chris Wheeler and Graham Agger but with just two ends to play found themselves all square at 16-16.

But they kept their nerve and finally earned a semi-final spot against Howard Shipp, Joe Randall and Jeff Newson claiming a 21-16 victory.

In another part of the draw Malcolm Cullingworth, Jay Travis-Jenner and Richard Montgomery proved no match for Neil Wright, James Harford and Simon law, going down 19-4.

In the mixed pairs Richard Allam and Anne Holmes needed an extra end to defeat John and Moira Holroyd who fought back from 12-17 with three of the 21 ends to play.

Bob Warters beat Werrington's Roger Ward 21-6 to reach the over 65 singles semi-final.