Pam Sly earned a richly deserved tonic at Towcester on Tuesday night even if the Fenland trainer was not there to see it.

A wretched winter for the Classic-winning trainer was compounded in early February when she broke her femur while unloading a horse from a box at Wetherby, but the 6/1 success of Arkaim in the opening 2m conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle could prove a hugely inspiring experience.

Sly has been confined to a wheelchair since the accident but expects to be on crutches soon which will hopefully coincide with an upturn in the fortunes of her runners.

Her partner Walter Russell said: “This will give Pam a great lift. It has been a difficult time and this was our first winner since Chicklemix at Wetherby on Boxing Day.

“We have had lots of seconds, thirds and fourths but none of them have been winning.”

If The 4.50 From Paddington is best known as an Agatha Christie thriller featuring a murder on a train, perhaps it was fitting the 4.50 from Towcester should prove equally gripping... with the official verdict of Arkaim’s victory from near all the way leader Pobs Trophy being by a neck!

Trainer David Pipe has been known to snaffle up the odd prize in Northamptonshire at this time of year and he landed a double on the card with Henok (4/1 jt second favourite) in the 2m handicap chase and Weather Babe in the 2m novices’ hurdle, both ridden by Conor O’Farrell.

There was also success for the Charlie Longsdon-trained No No Bingo (6/1) in the 2m 3 1/2f handicap chase, a victory all the more ironic as the Noel Fehily-ridden seven year-old just prevailed by a neck from the Denis O’Regan-ridden Endofdiscusion, trained by Longsdon’s near neighbour Paul Webber and owned by county based patron David Allen.

Shrewd Investment (3/1), formerly trained by Alan King under Rules, scored a runaway success in the 2m 3 1/2f maiden hunters’ chase, the seven year-old trained by Laura Thomas at Wroughton near Swindon and ridden by Josh Newman.

Fergal O’Brien has had a successful National Hunt season, his first full year with a licence, and the west country handler inspired a success for Brackley businessman Rob Rexton with Queen Of Mantua (15/8 fav) in the 2m 3 1/2f novices’ chase.

The evening’s concluding contest saw the Nicky Henderson-trained Act Four (2/1 fav) land the bumper but punters won’t have to wait long for the next slice of action as Towcester stages a Monday afternoon card next week (first race 2pm).

Motorists travelling into Northampton this morning are facing delays after a car fire.

The blaze happened on the A45 near the Queen Eleanor interchange and has caused queues which are backing up to the roundabout at Junction 15 of the M1.

Dave Lee from Northamptonshire Police tweeted via @Northants_RPU: “A45 traffic is stacked right back to the M1 junction at 15. It is moving slowly. Please avoid or allow extra time folks” and also “Lane one closure on the A45 EastBound just prior to Queen Eleanor Interchange due to a vehicle fire. Colleagues awaiting recovery.”

The Highways Agency has said it expects ‘normal driving conditions’ by 10am.

Further rush hour delays have been caused by two-way traffic lights in Harlestone Road. This has caused traffic to back up in all directions heading to the Harlestone Road/Mill Lane roundabout.

The lights are in place so Anglian Water can carry out work on a “dangerous” manhole cover. Work is estimated to end on Friday.

Northampton Town footballer Lee Collins has been given a suspended prison sentence for a pub attack that left his victim with a dislocated shoulder.

Collins told a judge he was “deeply sorry” for the attack in which he punched and kicked a man who had gone to a pub in Shropshire to celebrate his wedding anniversary.

The 24-year-old carried out the attack at the Station Hotel pub in Wellington, the Shropshire Star has reported.

Collins and co-defendant James Mullarky got into an altercation with Donald Campbell and during the attack, 26-year-old Mullarky threw a pint glass which hit Mr Campbell on the cheek.

The court heard the altercation started when Mr and Mrs Campbell asked Collins – who now earns £600 a week and an additional £200 per game at Northampton Town – and Mullarky to leave their table.

Without warning, Collins punched Mr Campbell in the head before throwing more punches, and Mullarky then threw the glass at Mr Campbell.

Stephen Oldham, for Collins, said the attack was completely out of character and his client was “deeply sorry”.

Cobblers’ manager, Aidy Boothroyd, told the court: “I’ve found Lee to be a genuine man, very level headed and a good role model.”

Mullarkey was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Collins was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 24 months, ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and placed on a curfew for 12 weeks between 8pm and 6am and told to pay Mr Campbell £2,500.

An 18-year-old man and 13-year-old by have been arrested after police identified a stolen car being driven in Northampton.

ANPR (automated number plate recognition) cameras located the car in the town centre on Tuesday night.

A spokesman for Northamptonshrie Police said: “At around 11.05pm, a Mercedes car – stolen during a car key burglary at Scholars Court – was identified in the Spring Boroughs area of the town.

“Following a short pursuit, two people were arrested in Chalk Lane with assistance from the force helicopter and the dog section.”

Both remain in custody at the Criminal Justice Centre in Northampton.

The man and boy are both from Northampton.

People are being urged to help identify graffiti ‘tags’ as part of a campaign by Northamptonshire Police to rid the county of the unwanted ‘artwork’, tackle anti-social behaviour and criminal damage.

Operation Illustration is the brainchild of a police community support officer (PCSO) in Wellingborough, Phil Wane, whose work with the Safer Community Team in the town has involved tracking graffiti writers and bringing offenders to justice.

His work is now being replicated by PCSOs across Northamptonshire in a bid to help tackle the problem.

From May, people will be able to help police identity graffiti ‘tags’ on Northamptonshire Police’s webstie and Facebook page as well as using #NameThatTag on Twitter.

PCSO Wane said: “There is a clear link between areas of graffiti and anti-social behaviour such as littering and drinking and a perception that young people ‘hanging around’ are causing trouble.

“Graffiti is defined as ‘writing or drawings that are scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place’ and graffiti writers use spray paint, stickers, stencils and pencils to mark their territory.

“There is almost an acceptance that graffiti is a way of life, that it won’t go away, that there is little point addressing the problem.

“There is a clear impression that nobody cares and we have to address that if we want to make the areas where we live safer and more pleasant places to be.

“We have to work more effectively with our partners to tackle the problem and by taking an education and enforcement message into our schools and out to a young audience via social media.”

The campaign - which can be followed on Twitter via @Op_Illustration - aims to bring in more information about graffiti and increase detections and community resolutions around anti-social behaviour.

For more information email OpIllustration@northants.police.uk

No Saints players have made it onto the list of nominees for this year’s Aviva Premiership player of the season award.

Samu Manoa is the most surprising omission, with the big American having had a superb season at Franklin’s Gardens.

Northampton players have won the award in two of the past three years, with Chris Ashton picking up the prize in 2010 and Tom Wood taking it in 2011.

But there will be no Saints representation this year, with the shortlist made up of Saracens’ Steve Borthwick, Harlequins’ Danny Care, Gloucester’s Akapusi Qera, Wasps’ Christian Wade and Leicester duo Tom Youngs and Julian Salvi.

And Saints prop Brian Mujati took to Twitter to express his surprise at the fact Manoa had not made the final six, tweeting: “Can anybody seriously believe @4blockmonstah (Manoa) was not nominated for player of the season?”

The shortlist was complied by rugby’s media with Nick Mullins (ESPN), Miles Harrison (Sky Sports), Alastair Eykyn (BBC 5 Live), Jill Douglas (freelance), Stephen Jones (Sunday Times), Adam Hathaway (chairman of the Rugby Writers’ Club and Sunday People), Hugh Godwin (The Independent and Independent on Sunday), David Rogers (Getty Images), and Alan Pearey (Rugby World).

The winner will be announced on May 9.

ONLY two weeks to go until the county council elections, but how many of you out there are unaware there’s a poll even taking place?

You might, if you lived in Rushmere Road, perhaps have spotted Professor Glynane dishing out leaflets the other day in what, if elected, would be new territory to him following the boundary reviews. Or you may have seen Gonzo in the half light of East Hunsbury (Simpson Manor notwithstanding, obviously), drumming up support for another term in office, even it is as a backbencher. Gonzo, by the way, gave an earnest handshake to Norman Hacker’s former number two, Ben Smith, at last week’s Cabinet as a farewell was said for the members of the Tory Inner Circle not standing this time. Our man on the scene joked it was difficult to distinguish whether Gonzo was saying farewell to Ben or, in fact, the outgoing Ben, was bidding a premature farewell to Gonzo’s life in politics.

Perhaps the strangest revelation yet - by far - is that UKIP, which plans to field 44 candidates on May 2, appears to have no leader. We rang UKIP’s Northamptonshire press gofer this week to ask for a comment from their leader as to what was the most important issue for voters in Northamponshire. We were offered up UKIP MEP, Derek Clark (80 this year by the way), but further pressing revealed the Europhobes haven’t actually got a “leader” per se in the county. So in the, dare we say it, unlikely event they are swept to power in a fortnight, there could be a lot of people wanting to clamber on to a podium to announce the immediate closure of that Brussels office of NEP which we fund to the tune of £200,000 a year.

ELSEWHERE, interesting to see the latest manoeuverings of Ifty Choudary, who’s hoping to get the ticket in Talavera. Not that the people of Daventry can help him where this week he unveiled radically different plans to convert a toilet block into a takeaway/restaurant, (never an especially aesthetic concept in Aufona’s view, but press on). It’s quite a change from the “community hall” plan he first revealed there two years ago, but as the good people of Kingsthorpe remember, Ifty’s quite entitled to shift his project aims around if he so wishes...

ALMOST nothing to report from the West Wing where #PCC Simmonds has been conspicuously quiet in comparison with recent weeks. It’s probably nothing at all to do with the imminent election, just that the poor chap needs a break from running the police/redecorating the West Wing and responding to the Chron’s online commentariat. He’ll be back soon. May 3 perhaps?

PS: APROPOS of nothing: Returned this week from a first ever “all-inclusive” holiday. Very good too, but having witnessed first hand the gluttony of some British holidaymakers, how long will it be before the airlines – sticklers for a 20kg luggage limit - begin outgoing and, crucially, return flight weigh-ins for the passengers? They should...

Gerry, off-message on the Thatcher funeral?

WHATEVER your views, it was pleasing to see Margaret Thatcher’s funeral passing off with everyone’s dignity intact. Reaction in Northampton included a series of tweets from The Mack culminating in a picture of him signing a letter of condolence aside a photo of Mrs T. Then there was Labour group leader Terry Wire’s generous assessment that she “towered not only over domestic political life but also the world stage”. With that in mind it was interesting, to see one of the party’s rising stars, an off-message Geraldine Davies, straining at the leash to pour scorn on the scale of the funeral on Twitter. “thatcherfuneral should’ve been private for family & supporters. this forced public funeral only stirs old wounds still bleeding”, she opined. That was about as incendiary as it got here in Northampton. Which, on reflection, is probably a good thing. Time to move 
on...

AUFONA has devoted a few column inches to the deputy leadership race going on at the Guildhall in recent weeks. Well now we’d like to take up some more. We now understand there are NO plans for Brandon Eldred to take over the number two job in a May reshuffle by The Mack.

Instead, it seems increasingly likely Mary Markham will be The Mack’s sidekick (if such a thing were possible) in the two years left before the next borough council elections. You read it here first...

Sometimes it’s pretty straightforward to write about a subject – topical or not. Sometimes the words leap off the keyboard. This isn’t one of those times.

Death, destruction and demonstration – all of it happened this week and within a single, 24-hour period. Uppermost in the news was the horrific loss of life and injury during the Boston Marathon. Close behind was the coverage of the funeral arrangements and service for the late Baroness Thatcher at St Paul’s. And a long way down the page – or screen – came the news of the massive earthquake in South Eastern Iran, registering at least 7.5 on the Richter scale. Each story was projected at us, the consuming public, and in full technicolour, almost as it was taking place.

By Tuesday afternoon this week and well under a day since the moment that three people were killed and many more dreadfully injured, the bomb blasts in Boston had been condemned as terrorist attacks. The finger was almost instantly pointed in the direction of Al-Qaeda, or sympathisers with it, but nobody has yet claimed responsibility for their actions – they may have done so by the time you read this. As the FBI continued its deliberations, the conspiracy theorists began to circulate fuzzy pictures of a figure on the roof of a nearby building. Wild and unsubstantiated rumours then followed. The United States has had more than a few home-grown attacks on its own citizens – this could be another. Point the finger at someone and you end up with three pointing back at yourself.

The funeral arrangements of the late Baroness Thatcher were so widely reported in the week before yesterday’s service in London that anyone bent on causing mischief, disruption or real distress must have had an excellent briefing of exactly where – and with minute by minute precision – when to cause it. I have immense respect for our security and armed forces and am certain that their quiet, protective work was made all the more difficult by the amount of detail which found its way into the media. Alongside this has been the procession of commentators –political and otherwise – who have collectively ensured that the event was pretty much a three-ringed circus from start to finish. Regardless of her policies and past, what spoke volumes to me was the image that emerged of a frail, old lady from a past time, living out her last days in a hotel, alone, surrounded by unknown “carers”. It shouldn’t have been that way, however plush the hotel in question.

And the earthquake in South Eastern Iran? Hundreds killed, many more injured and thousands made destitute in an instant. This wasn’t the work of man – instead the immeasurably more powerful hand of Mother Nature, proved how insignificant we truly are. In terms of the numeric loss of life this was by far the biggest story of a single day on planet earth – why then did it rank so low on the pages of most of the national media here? The loss of any human life is a tragedy – for certain media it seems that some lives bring more weight of tragedy to bear than others, depending on where they come from. It shouldn’t be that way either.

There is, of course, an absolute need for us to be informed about the world in which we live. In no way should we be fed a diluted, sugar-coated version of events through the media. But with the way in which stories are packaged for our “infotainment” in the modern world, I wonder if the current balance is quite right.

With news of the explosions at the Boston marathon this week, it’s easy to fall into the mindset that far too many residents of this planet are debauching our society.

We can’t help it; every day as we feed a forkful of mash potato into our mouths, we hear the evening news telling us of the latest case of murder, rape, robbery or assault.

Bad news is becoming as common as oxygen and it seems as though, as our world takes two steps forwards, crime brings us once step back.

Demoralising and disheartening, incidents like the Boston bombings make it hard for us to see the good in many people.

In light of the endless stream of negativity we seem to be hearing, I think it’s about time we heard something a little more positive.

So here’s something that happened to me the other day. I hope it will hopefully restore your faith in humanity, it certainly did with me.

It was a normal Thursday evening when our shopping was delivered from Tesco. The dog barked as I ushered him into the kitchen; the delivery man, my mum and I exchanged pleasantries as we unloaded the crates of shopping bags and, while my mind was wondering over to what I was going to eat first, his was probably on what time he finished work. Like I said, a normal Thursday evening.

Upon finishing the unloading process, the gentleman who delivered our goods held out the piece of paper for my mum to sign.

I’m presuming it was to say she’d received the food, but for all I know she could have just agreed to ship me off to Africa next week.

“Oh, no I can’t”, my mum said as she was about to step forward.

She glanced up warily at a spider above her head and refused to get any closer in the fear it would fall on her and… well I don’t know what she was expecting to happen but she was scared, I know that much.

It was then that the Tesco delivery man stepped forward and reached up to the unsuspecting spider. He took it by a leg and disposed of it promptly in the front garden.

Mum breathed a sigh of relief.

“Thank you!” she said, before fondly pointing out, “That’s good isn’t it? Delivering our shopping and catching the spider!”

The Tesco delivery man smiled. His last words before he took the clipboard from my mum and got back in his van?

“Every little helps.”

Health and safety (or is that elf’n safety?) is frequently the butt of jokes in this country even if some of the stories surrounding it are nothing more than myths.

But today’s revelation that roadside litter collections have been suspended in Northampton for more than two months to allow a full health and safety review to be carried out does seem both excessive and mystifying.

Rewind several weeks to when a single litter picker was regrettably involved in an unspecified accident on the A45. The immediate reaction was to cease all roadside litter picking to allow a full health and safety review to be done, but as one green campaigner points out it is not exactly “rocket science” and certainly shouldn’t take eight weeks.

The consequences are twofold: One is that litter has piled up on the roadsides and looks pretty awful at some entry points to the town. And secondly, once again, health and safety gets a bad press, aka elf ‘n safety gone mad?).

H&S is there for a reason and thank goodness it is, but sometimes it can seem like an absurdly long time to reach common sense, workable solutions.

Of course we hope the H&S review is effective, just as we hope less litter is dropped by all British roadsides. But that’s probably a debate for another day...

Police today revealed they are investigating a public order incident in High Street, Roade.

The incident happened at 4.40pm last Saturday when a man approached a group of children, all aged 12 and 13, and threatened them with violence.

He threatened to punch and break the legs of a 13-year-old boy who he then chased along the street.

Police, who described the altercation as “very upsetting” for the children, said the man was white, aged 40-50, 5ft 10in, with a large build and balding hair.

He was wearing a navy blue T-shirt and possibly green trousers or shorts.

Anyone with information can call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or, alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Cobblers chairman David Cardoza has revealed that the club’s Sixfields redevelopment proposals include a plan to make the current east stand the stadium’s main stand.

The east stand, also known as the Alwyn Hargrave Family Stand, currently seats 1,700 supporters, is the main area for disabled fans and acts as an overflow area when visiting teams bring more fans than the south stand can accommodate.

But under the club’s plans, it will house the club offices (which are currently above the club shop) and a full range of new facilities for corporate hospitality and conferencing.

Cardoza has confirmed there will be news on the redevelopment in the next ‘one to two months’ and that it will include work on the east stand as a bare minimum, paid for by an enabling development made up primarily of housing.

“It’s the land behind the east stand and the other land that is controlled by the Homes & Communities Agency,” said Cardoza.

“It’s about 40 acres in total and we’re trying to put a scheme together for that.

“We would use the money to put back into the stadium.

“At the very least we would turn the east stand into the main stand, and that would include the club offices, boxes, and corporate hospitality to generate money.

“Then if we start to make an income from that we can use it for the rest of the stadium, but that’s a worst-case scenario.

“The best case is that we get the whole thing done, but that’s unlikely.

“We’d like to get a hotel on here as well but we accept we are in a recession and that has made life a bit more difficult and means we won’t make as much money out of it as we would have liked.”

Improving the club’s corporate hospitality is seen as a priority to increase a vital revenue stream and allow the Cobblers to compete with the newer stadia in league two.

Conferencing and matchday facilities at grounds like Burton Albion and Chesterfield are seen as far superior to that at Sixfields, which was built in 1994 as a community sports stadium.

The ground will be close to capacity in the next two matches, though, with Barnet set to sell their 1,350 ticket allocation for Saturday’s game and a bumper turn-out expected for the home semi-final of the play-offs.

“I’m looking forward to the next couple of games here,” said Cardoza.

“The Barnet game is looking like it should be our biggest gate of the season and the play-off game will be huge as well, we’ll be over 7,000 for both.

“It will be special here for those games.

“Although we want to win to go above Burton it’s a day to relax after a tough season and it’s one we can all relax for.”

The Saints squad are preparing to give something back to their fans at a free Franklin’s Gardens open day on Saturday.

Members of the first team squad will be part of an event which will give supporters the chance to say goodbye to some of the players leaving the club this summer.

There will be numerous activities, including main pitch skills sessions involving the likes of Soane Tonga’uiha and Brian Mujati, and interview opportunities with Phil Dowson and Tom May.

And there is also the chance to watch the next generation of Saints players as the club’s under-17 side take on their Wasps counterparts from 2pm.

A Saints spokesperson said: “We’re really looking forward to Saturday’s open day.

“It is both a chance to say thank you to our supporters for the backing that they have given the team throughout the season and an opportunity for people to see behind the scenes at Franklin’s Gardens.

“The nature of modern-day rugby means that the window of opportunity for days like this is shrinking with each passing year, so we are going to make the most of this Saturday by giving people virtually unlimited access to the stadium, the chance to go through skill sessions with players and have a go at a wide range of other activities and interactive challenges.

“The Under-17s game at 2pm also gives supporters the chance to see some of the brightest young players in the country play on the main pitch, too.

“It’s going to be a memorable day and we hope that as many people as possible will come to Franklin’s Gardens.”

The events, the players taking part in them and where they will be held are listed below.

Main pitch skill sessions: Soane Tonga’uiha, Brian Mujati, Christian Day, Mark Sorenson, Lee Dickson, Martin Roberts, Stephen Myler, Ryan Lamb, Jamie Elliott & Ken Pisi.

Team room (Hankook power lap): James Wilson, Alex Waller.

Changing room: Ross McMillan, Dom Waldouck.

Press room (have a go at interviewing – we’ll email the interview to the people who do it): Phil Dowson, Tom May

Heroes Bar (inc design your own shirt): GJ van Velze, Ben Nutley

Gym: Calum Clark, Tom Mercey, Vasily Artemyev, Scott Armstrong.

Village area:

Table tennis: Samu Manoa, Courtney Lawes

Rowers: Tom Wood, Mikey Haywood

Bikes: Luther Burrell, Rhys Oakley

David Willey took his LV= County Championship wicket-tally to 15 in five innings by taking 4-71 on the opening day against Gloucestershire at Bristol.

Thanks largely to the left-arm seamer, the home side were able to post only 192 after winning the toss, 18-year-old wicketkeeper Cameron Herring top-scoring with 43 in his first Championship innings.

Steven Crook (3-47), James Middlebrook (2-4) and Trent Copeland, who conceded only 26 runs from 18 overs, provided able support for Willey. By the close the visitors had replied with 107-3.

Gloucestershire’s County Ground is a building site at the moment with ground development work continuing behind the bowler’s arm at both ends.

Perhaps that contributed to a tentative batting display by the hosts, who were 9-2 in the seventh over, with Willey having Chris Dent taken in the slips and bowling Dan Housego pushing forward.

Michael Klinger was caught behind playing forward to Crook for 23 and, with the ball moving in the air and off the seam, may have regretted his decision to bat.

Crook accounted for Alex Gidman, on 20, as he was caught at first slip by Andrew Hall and it was 70-5 when Hamish Marshall was caught behind off Willey for eight in the final over before lunch.

Will Gidman offered a second catch to Sales to give Willey his fourth wicket with the total on 90. And, although Benny Howell (31) looked in better form than most, he had his stumps rearranged by Crook pushing forward to make it 111-7.

Herring and Jack Taylor then put together an attractive stand of 48, which ended when off-spinner Middlebrook was introduced into the Northants attack.

He accounted for Taylor with the score on 159 as the batsman skied to mid-off, having faced 42 balls and hit four fours in his 31. David Payne then was stumped by David Murphy off the medium pace of Hall for a duck.

Herring, who had come in at 90-6, was last man out, stumped advancing down the track to Middlebrook, having hit eight fours in an 81-ball innings of immense promise.

The teenager’s good day continued when he dived to catch Kyle Coetzer for 24 off Will Gidman to break a Northants opening stand of 41.

Sales pulled a simple catch to mid-wicket off Liam Norwell and departed kicking himself for five. Then Stephen Peters, on 34, repeated the shot against the same bowler and was brilliantly caught by Will Gidman at mid-on.

Northamptonshire Titans Under-14s put in a fantastic effort before losing their EBL Under 14 Boys play-off quarter-final against Lewisham Thunder 71-62.

This game was always going to be close and it didn’t disappoint with nerves on edge for most of the match.

Titans came out strong and looked a completely different team from the previous week.

Keenan Salmon looked inspired with a quick turn round to score Titans’ first basket within one minute of tip-off.

The atmosphere in the gym was electric with a great crowd of both home and away supporters.

The first quarter saw great efforts from all the staring five with captain Elliott Farrar unable to train all week due to an injury picked up in the first round match in was unsure whether he would manage any court time at all.

Within seconds of tip-off the doubts were put aside and he played as freely as the opposition would allow.

Trei St VIe and Hayden Alcindor did what they do best and both scored well in a few minutes keeping the table busy.

Lewisham were ready for action and at the end of the first quarter had almost levelled the scores.

The second quarter was a different story and Lewisham seemed to find their rhythm and took Titans a little by surprise, scoring 10 points in quick secession Titans had to find a way to stop them.

Although Titans came out fresh and renewed after the half time locker room talk, Lewisham were equally as strong and both teams fought hard Lewisham started to run away with a lead.

Titans came back with a superb show from all players on the court.

Unfortunately there was not much room for the coach to rotate the players, however one at a time most of the bench had court minutes.

The final quarter was as tense as game we have seen at Weavers for a long time.

The boys dug deep with the noise almost unbearable from a group of boys on the bench desperate for their team to find the basket.

As the Titans drew the match level at 61-61 with two minutes to go, it looked like they may realise the dream of a trip to final fours.

However, Lewisham again proved relentless and scored three baskets quickly to take the game.

The undefeated Titans had finally been beat in what can only be described as an amazing game of basketball worthy of a Final Fours final game.

This year may not have been the year for the Final Fours, but make no mistake the NEBC Titans learn fast and will take all they have learnt this year from coaches John Clarke and Danny Alexis to get them to where they deserve to be next year.

EBL Under 16 Boys Play-off Quarter Final

Newham All Star Sports Academy 66 Northamptonshire Titans 52

The Northamptonshire Titans U16 Boys travelled south for the first time this season to take on last season’s U15 Champions Newham All-Star Sports Academy for a place in the Final Four Championships.

Titans were considered the underdogs in this game as Newham had clinched the Southern Premier title with a 19-1 record as well as winning the U16 Boys National Cup.

With these credentials and home court advantage, NASSA were confident that they had already booked their place in the end of season showcase.

However, NEBC Titans were determined to put up a fight and despite being at a considerable height disadvantage they played with gusto and matched the London team’s physicality.

Unfortunately the game officials decided that it was the smaller Northants side that were too aggressive, and this resulted in key Titan players and regular top scorers Andre Arissol and Terrell Salmon picking up two fouls apiece in the first quarter of play.

Having to go to the bench early meant that Titans struggled to convert early opportunities and with a last second buzzer beaing a three-pointer by the home side, NASSA took the first quarter 19-10 which would prove to be the largest margin of all of the remaining quarters.

The start of the second saw the two teams trade baskets as both teams used fast-break opportunities to try to establish a foothold in the game.

By the fifth minute of the quarter, Titans had managed to double their points tally and now trailed by 28–20.

However, that was to be the last time they troubled the scorers for the remainder of the first half.

NASSA scored the last eight points of the quarter all from the free-throw line and headed into the half-time interval with a big lead of 36-20.

Titans were left to rue the fact they could have narrowed the margin to single digits if they had not missed seven of their 11 free-throws at that point.

If the Northamptonshire side were to cause a huge turnaround and upset the form guide they would need a Titanic effort in the third and fourth periods.

Titans won the third quarter 15-14 but knew they would have to push themselves in to an even higher gear to keep their season alive.

The boys in purple decide that they would not go down without a fight and took the game to the hosts.

In their best period so far Titans rallied to cut the deficit to just 10 points with a superlative three--pointer from Sharif St john and as Titans sniffed blood and used their stifling defence to get back into the game, the NASSA coach was forced to call a time-out to allow his players to regain their composure.

This tactic worked as the home side managed to score the last six points of the game thanks to their two England players Calvin Kintu and Johnathon James, who combined for 40 of their team’s 66 points.

Despite Titans also winning the fourth quarter 17–16 and outscoring their illustrious hosts 32-30 in the second half, with top scorers Sharif St John (17) and Terrell Salmon (12) being the only two players managing to get into double figures for NEBC, time had run out on Titans Final Four aspirations.

Coach Danny Alexis concluded said: “Upon reflection the Titan boys can look back with pride at their achievements this season.

“They can consider themselves as one of the best six teams in the country and look forward to going one stage further next season as they compete in the Under 18 Premier League.

“With hard work, commitment as well as the addition of some experienced players Titans feels that over the course of the next season they will be able to compete with the top teams in the country”.

Come and play...

In preparation for next season NEBC Titans would like to invite players interested in playing in the National League in age groups under-13 to under-18 to come along to training sessions starting in July at Northampton Academy and Weavers Leisure Centre.

check the club’s website and Facebook page for dates and times which will be announced at the end of May.

Titans’ sister club Wellingborough Phoenix are running sessions for 8-12 year olds on Saturdays from 10.30am-Midday 00 at Weavers Leisure Centre.

Another sister club, the Northampton Nets, are running sessions for 6-14 year olds on Sundays from 10-11.30am, and young girls sessions on Mondays from 6-7.30pm (until May 5 then starting again in July-due to exams) at Northampton Academy.

Check the websites for more details: http://www.nebctitans.co.uk/ http://www.northamptonnets.net/index.html http://www.wellingboroughphoenix.co.uk/

It was a bad weekend for the Northants Basketball Club as all three of its girls teams involved lost their play-off quarter-finals and missed out on a place in the Final Fours.

Junior Women’s Play Off Quarter Final

Bury Blue Devils 71 Northants Lightning 40

The Northants junior women travelled to Holy Cross College in Bury on Saturday to take on Blue Devils in the quarter-finals and ended up on the wrong end of a 66-41 scoreline.

The Bury team has been boosted by two players from London currently studying at Burnley College, and two players who have defected from Manchester.

From the start the Northants girls found the game just a little too physical for their liking and the intensity of the Bury defence made scoring very difficult.

Lightning managed just 20 points in the first two periods of play and found themselves trailing 40-20 at half time.

Things didn’t get any easier for the Northants girls in the third quarter which Blue Devils took 15-7 to extend their lead to 55-27 going into the final stanza.

Lightning kept battling to the end and only lost the last quarter 16-13, but Bury were good value for their 31 point win.

In a game where scoring was at a premium for the Northants girls, Steph Ogden with 14 points was the only Lightning player to score in double figures.

Cadette Women’s Play-off Quarter Finals

Manchester Mystics 66 Northants Lightning Too 41

After the game against Bury, the eight Cadette Women who had played in the Junior game stayed over in the north ready for their game against Manchester Mystics the next day.

The final score is no reflection on a battling performance by the Northants girls.

They lost the first three periods of play by single figures in a game dominated by defences, but at 43-28 they were still in with an outside chance of winning the game going into the last 10 minutes of play.

Early in the fourth quarter they lost the services of defensive enforcer and top rebounder Rio Blessyn and Mystics went on a points scoring charge to take the final quarter 23-13 and win the game.

Once again scoring proved difficult for the Northants girls but Amy Boot totalled 10 points and Steph Ogden in her own inimitable way recorded a magnificent 20 point total

Under-15 Girls Play-off Quarter Finals

Haringey Angels 81 Northants Lightning 50

Ask any coach what they look for in successful players, and most of them will answer that they would like technical ability, speed and strength combined with tactical awareness.

That is exactly what the Northants under 15 girls faced when they took on Haringey Angels last Saturday.

Add to this a very accomplished game coach and it is clear that the Northants girls would be really up against it.

The hard fact is that Lightning took a 30-plus point beating, but that really did not give a true reflection of the game which for long periods was very competitive.

The keys to the game lay in a storming start by Angels which took them into a 19-4 lead early in the first period of play, and a terrible period at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth when Lightning were outscored 18-1.

Other than those two spells, the County girls played some determined defence and committed offence to stay competitive with the very talented north London team.

After being outscored 23-9 in the first period of play Lightning coach Karen Goodrich switched her team to a zone defence and entered into a fascinating tactical battle with Angels coach Dan Bowmaker.

Haringey took the second quarter 25-22 and the two sides exchanged baskets for five minutes at the start of the third quarter before Lightning hit that nine minute drought to fall behind 77-43 and it was ‘game over’.

There were several positives for the young Lightning team with Charlotte Berridge top scoring with 15 points. Ruchae Walton just missed out on a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds while Sarah Round scored nine points and Lauren Milne contributed seven points and pulled down nine rebounds.

As a team playing a year young, Lightning have probably over-achieved this season, but they face a summer of hard work if they are to go one better next season and reach the Final Four.

Season 2012/13 will always be remembered fondly by Dalepak Winter League naps table champion Mick Tack as the year he completed the set.

For not only has the 62-year-old Parklands sporting enthusiast scooped the £1,000 first prize for his tipping prowess after winning a variety of other naps awards over the years, he also rounded off a lifelong tour of English League football clubs into the bargain.

Tack, whose team name NIBS is an abbreviation for Northampton Indoor Bowls, explained: “I have been very lucky as in the past I have also won the Sammy Parker Trophy for most individual winners, and the prize for the longest priced horse, as well as a monthly award.”

He added: “In March my wife Lesley and I saw the Cobblers lose 3-0 at Exeter which meant I had seen every one of the 92 current league clubs play at home, although not all at the most modern grounds. The 91st meant a visit to Newcastle against West Ham in November.”

The key to the winners and runners-up prizes of the 25-week long season was an old pals act with fellow Trueform Aurora work-mate Derek Wills... the pair have been playing bowls together for around 40 years for the team now called just Aurora, in the Abington Park League.

Neither was aware the other had napped 66/1 Grand National winner Auroras Encore on April 6, although a clue of course was in the name.

The fact they have always shared prize money means both will benefit to the tune of £750 – as runners-up spot wins £500.

Tack said: “We had a day out in Stamford on Grand National day and when we returned home I went straight to the recording of the race rather than the football results which I normally do.

“When Auroras Encore led over the last I couldn’t contain myself and fast forwarded the recording to the winning post!

“On Saturday we had a day out at Blenheim Palace as I just wanted to be away from it all.

“There is another Aurora link as Barry Frost, who won the Cheltenham tipsters competition, is also with the club.”

THE final Saturday of the 2012/13 Dalepak Winter Naps Challenge proved to be something of a damp squib after all previous excitement.

None of the prize money positions changed, so Mick Tack of NIBS will pick up the winner’s cheque for £1,000 with Derek Wills (Trueform Aurora Bowls) in second place as the £500 recipient.

Others winners cheques go to Manor Mayhem (£250), Kings Head United (£125), Growly Bears (£75) and Nag Nappers (£50).

The £50 free bet for the Snowy Wootton Poachers Pot goes to Darren Letts (Bugbrooke Badgers) for his early season 33/1 shot Tweedledrum while the £50 free bet and Sammy Parker Trophy was won by Peter Ward (Yeoman Boys) who had 17 winners during the season.

*A reminder that your chance to re-register for the summer season will take place at our Naps Presentation/Race Night at the Northampton WMC in Sheep Street on Thursday evening (April 25), when the doors open at 7pm, with the action getting underway at 8pm. The new summer flat season begins on Saturday May 4.

Naps table

*Denotes non runner switched to race favourite

NIBS Tap Night +54.64

Trueform Aurora Sametegal +50.00

Manor Mayhem Monsieur Cadou +40.50

King’s Head Utd Lively Baron +34.40

Growly Bears Big Occasion +20.38

Nag Nappers Shanroe Society +19.13

Bugbrooke Badgers Relax +18.50

Sons of Black Sam GODSMEJUDGE (12/1) +18.25

PWB Racing COURT MINSTREL (4/1) +16.50

Queen’s Park Snooker GODSMEJUDGE (12/1) +16.50

Miracle Workers Big Occasion +15.25

Dave’s Doublers Relax +14.70

Sticky Wicket Cool Operator +13.50

Admiral Rodney GODSMEJUDGE (12/1) +13.38

Midland Band Pool RAJDHANI EXPRESS (3/1) +12.63

Wright Nag Grumeti +12.38

Mr Grumpy Nuts N Bolts +12.26

Go Getters Always Right +11.88

Trinity Old Boys Always Right +11.38

Manor Inn Brackley Rigadin De Beauchene +11.00

Warkton Fields Tap Night +10.01

CJ’s Pickles Lion Na Bearnai +10.00

Loco Saints Rebeccas Choice +9.88

Rothwell Cobbler Green Flag +9.00

Max Relax +8.63

T&J Club Sametegal +8.38

TP Racing Relax +7.80

Barley Hill Punters Pentiffic +7.57

Nu Vu Windows Relax +7.50

Got Potential Bradley +7.00

Spinaclean Nuts N Bolts +7.00

Tailor’s Dummies Pentiffic +6.50

Ajay Club Buddy Bolero +6.40

Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid GODSMEJUDGE (12/1) +6.21

Simple Minds Tap Night +5.91

Yeoman Boys Peckhamecho +5.84

T&S Racing Relax +5.63

Snowy’s Daughter Lively Baron +4.39

Golfing Gourmets Mister Marker +4.35

Riches’ Floretunes Problema Tic +4.00

3 Ms Une Artiste +3.73

ACKO GODSMEJUDGE (12/1) +3.50

Duston Con Club Problema Tic +3.50

Evertonians Relax +2.75

Aardvark Racing Garleton +2.63

Alcon Rigadin de Beauchene +2.25

Shonkies Lad Relax +1.50

Abington LTC Bygones Of Brid +1.00

S&D Racing Rebeccas Choice +1.00

Cock At Roade Silk Hall +0.79

Aye Boy Relax +0.54

M & B Racing Monsieur Cadou +0.25

Crown And Anchor Captain Americo -0.17

OXO Captain Americo -0.25

Sons Of The Desert Fill The Power -0.50

B C Magpie Relax -0.75

Health Matters Problema Tic -1.00

NCT Racing Lion Na Bearnai -1.17

Postman Pat -1.17

Diamond Girl Cocoa Minnie -1.34

Exiled Geordies GODSMEJUDGE (12/1) -2.00

The Nap Hand Partnership Captain Americo -2.00

K9 Walkers Relax -2.50

Cassandra Oh Crick -3.25

Happy Dave Pentiffic -3.25

Racegoers Garleton -3.40

Mug Punters Silk Hall -3.50

The Wolf Whistler Honour A Promise -3.50

Towcester S&SC Stagecoach Pearl -3.50

Bulltree Boys Relax -3.75

Bajan Racing Bradley -4.00

Gayton Bill Tour Des Champs -4.00

The Uppers Problema Tic -4.12

Brinley’s Banker Lion Na Bernai -4.47

Rosebery Ramblers Captain Americo -4.50

Plough Inn Everdon Jukebox Melody -4.59

Blue Diamond Cool Operator -4.60

Moulton Mules Relax -4.75

Goody Goody -4.91

Overstone Caravaners -4.95

Not Too Sad Pentiffic -5.00

Phoenix Golf Garleton -5.00

White Hart Hackleton Big Occasion -5.62

Greens Norton Racers Bradley -6.25

Mayfield Park Knockara Beau -6.25

Zulu Warriors Presenting Junior -6.25

Roade Walkers Lively Baron -6.50

Red Van Man Rebel Rebellion -6.87

KAB Pentiffic -7.00

The Wife Can Do Better Nuts N Bolts -7.00

West Haddon Bowls Pentiffic -7.00

Old Hamish Amber Beat -7.03

Cobblers Youth Cool Operator -7.24

Margil Social Garleton -7.50

Nick Brown Racing Cocoa Minnie -7.50

Delboy’s Trotters The Fonz -7.67

Nene Valley Racing LEO LUNA (5/2) -7.95

Charlie’s Angels Neptune Equester -8.12

Blisworth Garden Services Rival d’Estruval* -8.17

Beatnik Beatles Pandy -8.20

Weekley Saints Rival d’Estruval* -8.33

Abfran Racing Our Mick -8.36

Towcester Racecourse Beyond The Wall -8.50

Transco OB Relax -8.75

Long Buckby Skittles Pentiffic -9.12

Culworth Red Lion Knight Valliant -9.25

M & N Racing Garleton -9.50

The 3 Js My Mate Paddy -9.75

Brixworth Wanderers Global Fella -9.89

Cogenhoe Star Fill The Power -10.00

Chelsea Pensioners Rival d’Estruval -10.50

Lonesome Dove Global Fella -11.00

Marron Racers Garleton -11.00

White Horse Silverstone -12.00

Juddies Giants Rigadin De Beauchene -12.49

Roade FC Presenting Junior -12.50

Earls Barton WMC Tour Des Champs -13.04

West Haddon FC Bradley -13.17

Royal Oak Walgrave Flash Harriet -13.67

Barnstaple Nomads Saphir River -13.99

Ashington Flyer Neptune Equester -14.00

Cripps Social Club Silk Hall -14.00

Kingsley Park Airgun Relax -14.00

SPA Garleton -14.17

Marmalaid Racing Our Mick -14.37

Maori Racing Rebeccas Choice -14.50

The Boys Cool Operator -14.62

Role On -15.00

Tomnjack Pentiffic -15.00

Fat Boy Captain Americo -15.12

Dawn’s Boys Fill The Power -16.25

St Mary’s FC COURT MINSTREL (4/1) -16.25

Trafford Bridge Fan Club Garleton -16.25

Black Symphony Relax -16.43

Sywell Flyers Problema Tic -16.43

OK Coral Captain Americo -16.50

The Likely Lads Cool Operator -16.58

Gusto’s Boys Pentiffic -17.00

Lady G My Mate Paddy -17.00

Jaycee Club Tour Des Champs -18.00

The Yarmouth Vagabonds Garleton -18.00

Wooldale FC Splash Of Ginge -18.00

Harborough Hamtunes Pentiffic -18.25

Old Sun Heyford Relax -18.25

Whistle Blowers Fill The Power -18.46

Magster Problema Tic -18.62

Rosey Poets Splash Of Ginge -19.00

Girls On Top Problema Tic -19.47

Rifle Drum Reaping The Reward -19.50

We Like Guinness Pentiffic -19.92

Nurses Know Better Captain Americo -20.00

Second Glance Silk Hall -20.00

Steeleye Ann Pentiffic -20.00

The Viking Sametegal -20.00

Dalepak Social Pentiffic -20.50

Kingfisher AC Neptune Equester -21.25

Clever Trevor Dr Dreamy -21.50

Betony Belle Ifandbutwhynot -21.75

Cobblers Le Magnifique Tradewinds -21.75

Forza Milan Tradewinds -21.75

Queen’s Park WMC Tap Night -21.75

Holdenby Heroes Cocoa Minnie -22.00

Pennies From Brisbane Sydney Paget -22.12

Northants Anglers Lion Na Bernai -23.09

Baltimore Bullet My Mate Paddy -25.00

Ex Equestrian Grumeti -25.00

Heathens RFC Knockara Beau -25.00

Kingsley FC Pepite Rose -25.00

Monday Ballroom Lion Na Bearnai -25.00

On The Edge Lucanor -25.00

Only Foals And Horses Neptune Equester -25.00

Steady Aim Captain Americo -25.00

The Byrne Syndicate -25.00

The N Club My Mate Paddy -25.00

Chairman Ritchie Jeune is hopeful Kettering Town will be able to resolve the latest blow to the club’s future after it was served with a winding up order by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

A statement on the club’s website confirmed Jeune was only contacted about the order by owner Imraan Ladak yesterday to notify him of the order, which was first presented on March 18.

The club have until 4pm tomorrow (Friday) to “give notice of its intention to oppose the petition” with the hearing due to take place in London on Monday.

Jeune confirmed the club will have a representative in the capital for the hearing and that an adjournment will be sought and, should that be the case, that all money owed “will be paid”.

And he also insisted the lateness of the notification was due to the club’s address not being changed. The Poppies are currently based at Steel Park in Corby while the documentation about the winding up order was sent to Rockingham Road.

Jeune and his band of volunteers have been keeping the club alive since it almost went under in October and he is hoping to secure a takeover from Ladak this summer while also getting the club out of its long-term lease at Nene Park.

His plan for the future involves a move back into the borough at Burton Latimer while, on the pitch, Thomas Baillie’s relegated side head to Chesham United for their final Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division game on Saturday.

The club statement said: “Yesterday Ritchie Jeune was contacted by the club owner (Ladak), who indicated that Kettering Town F C Management Limited is facing a winding up order, issued by HM Revenue and Customs.

“This order was presented on March 18, 2013 and advertised in the London Gazette on April 17. The hearing is in London next Monday, April 29.

“For the last 24 hours the volunteers, who are trying to keep the club going, have been trying to investigate the extent of the winding up order, which, it seems, relates to monies due, assessed by HMRC, from the date of the CVA in June 2012.

“The Limited Company has until 4pm on Friday (tomorrow) to give notice of its intention to oppose the petition and before that can be done more information and the cooperation of the club owner will be urgently sought.”

Jeune added: “All the documentation was sent to Rockingham Road, it is not as if Imraan has kept this from us.

“He only found out about it yesterday like we did. As volunteers, we have no power to change any addresses or anything like that.

“The order has been served and we have spoken with HMRC and also sent all the relevant documentation since we have been at Steel Park. We have explained the situation.

“The problem we have is with the time we have to deal with this but that is the club’s fault for not changing its address.

“As long as we have someone at the hearing on Monday, we are hopeful there will be an adjournment and then we will be able to provide HMRC with the information they need and will be able to pay the amount that is owed.”

Staverton Park made a positive start to their season as they prevented reigning champions Peterborough Milton from recording back-to-back wins with a 5½-2½ home victory.

After whitewashing Overstone in their opening contest last weekend, Milton made a solid start as Ian Symonds won game one on the 16th, while Rory Edwards clinched the fourth tie on the same hole.

Staverton duo Rob Hemus and David Walshe clinched the second and third games and with the next match finishing all square, the result remained in the balance.

It was the home team who took control however as Miles Mudge (6&5) and Josh Morris (5&4) recorded convincing wins, before Michael Franklin beat Adrian Firman down the last to complete the scoring.

Overstone recovered from their hammering at Peterborough eight days earlier to inflict a 6-2 home defeat on Northants County on Sunday.

Pete Goddard and Andy MacDonald got Overstone off to a positive start as they defeated Tom Bullough and Alan Linney respectively in the opening two ties.

County’s Danny Roberts pulled one point back with a 3&2 win, but Ian Kennedy (2&1) and James Barker (3&2) took their games to guarantee Overstone at least a draw.

The home victory was quickly confirmed when Harry Woan went two up with two to play against Tom Duck after holing a 20-footer for birdie on the 16th hole.

Woan closed out his tie and, although away debutante Dan Ashcroft defeated Richard Dalton down the last, Overstone completed a satisfying outing when Tom Anderson beat Adam Print on 18.

In division two, Kettering maintained their unbeaten start to the season as they recorded a 6-2 home victory over Rushden, who are still searching for their first point of the campaign.

Fresh from drawing at Kingsthorpe in their opening contest, Kettering made a strong start as Jamie Ashcroft, James Northern and Rob Stevenson strolled in with 5&4 victories under their belts.

Rushden responded through Nick Statham (4&3) and Ian Dickerson (3&2) but the hosts took the final three points on the closing green as Andy Draper, Andy Lilly and Michael Campbell triumphed.

In division three, Brampton Heath made it two wins out of two this season with a crushing 7-1 home victory against Whittlebury Park.

After edging a tight contest at Cold Ashby last weekend, Brampton made a blistering start as Brendan Kelly (5&4), Harry Brown and David Gottsch (both 6&5) recorded big wins.

Alec Francis was even more impressive as he completed an incredible 9&7 victory over Martin Conley, before Guy Loveland secured the team success on the 17th hole.

Ollie Salter added another home point on the penultimate green to make it 6-0, before Whittlebury got themselves on the scoreboard with a couple of half points in the final two ties.

Jon Newman finished level with Brampton’s Fraser Carnihan, while away teenager Sam Henfrey drew with his county boys team-mate Jack Brown.

Cold Ashby suffered their second successive one-point defeat this season as they went down by the narrowest of margins away to Farthingstone.

The visitors started brightly as Brad Green and Jack Collins picked up the first two points with wins on the 17th hole, while Greg Croxton defeated Ian Donald by the same score.

Farthingstone were always in control of the remaining matches as Mick Barnett and Ian Donald clinched a 2&1 win apiece, while Paul Hodgkiss defeated Graham Bott 4&3.

Martin Crowther’s half secured the win after Matt Hodgkiss had produced a breathtaking round against Bob Clayton as he won nine consecutive holes, culminating in an eagle two on the 12th.

Cherwell Edge made an excellent start to their division four campaign to get out of the bottom section as they won 6-2 away to Stoke Albany, who suffered a 7-1 hammering at Daventry the previous weekend.

Although seven of the eight ties reached the 16th green at least, Cherwell were always in control as they secured a convincing win.

Ben Anderson and John Thompson triumphed 2&1, Matt Riddle won the next tie 4&3, before Stephen King and Graham Collett confirmed an away victory with two holes to spare.

Andy Reuthe (2&1) and Steve Donald (4&2) got Stoke on the scoresheet, but Dave Grant completed the formalities for Cherwell by beating Ernie Rayner 3&1 in the last game.

This Saturday is the Saints’ Open Day, and to celebrate the squad reaching a fourth successive Aviva Premiership Rugby semi-final, we have teamed up with the club to offer one lucky reader the opportunity to win £100 to spend in the End of Season Kit Room Sale at Franklin’s Gardens!

But you need to be quick, the closing date is midnight tonight (Thursday).

The sale includes exclusive items from the kit room, including training shirts, gym t-shirts, team-wear polo shirts and coach jackets, along with full signed away and Cup match shirts, and massive further discounts on existing sale products.

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is answer this simple question:

How many tries did the Saints score against Sale Sharks last Saturday evening?

A)5; B) 7; C) 9

Saturday’s Open Day starts at 10am and gives supporters the opportunity to enjoy loads of fun and games with the Saints squad and to see behind the scenes at Franklin’s Gardens, including the players’ gym, physio room and changing room.

Supporters can also have their photo taken with the Saints’ own Heineken Cup and try their hand at interviewing players and match commentary.

Entry is FREE and all are welcome!

Send your entry by email to editor@northantnews.co.uk, using the subject line Saints £100 giveaway. Remember to include your name, address and daytime telephone number, as well as the answer. The closing date is midnight on Thursday, April 25.

The voucher can only be redeemed in person at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday, April 27 between 10am and 2pm.

Johnston Press standard promotional conditions apply (available on request).

Voucher offer is the responsiblity of the provider, Northampton Saints.

To contact Johnston Press Midlands Marketing call 01604 251195 or email midlands.marketing@jpress.co.uk. For quality and training purposes we may monitor communications.