ONs bounced back spectacularly from their defeat on the previous Saturday to run in 16 tries in a 109-3 win over Mansfield at Billing Road.

On a day when virtually everything went right for the ONs, a major feature of their play was the ability to keep the ball alive.

When attacks seemed to be petering out there was always an ONs’ player in support to take the pass or recycle the ball and the pace and precision of these attacks repeatedly shredded the Mansfield defence.

Hardly a pass was dropped throughout the game, the finishing was clinical and the decision-making exactly right.

The ONs scored nine first-half tries,all converted by Tom Goodman, who also kicked a penalty, to lead 66-3 at the break.

Seven tries were added in the second half, Goodman converting four of these to finish with a personal tally of 29 points to take the final score to 109-3.

Maharaja man of the match Alex Crofts scored three tries, as did Sam Howes.

Jake Spencer, Jack Rose and Tom Harris registered two each while there were singles for Kieran O’Connor,Lewis Barker, Rory Seymour and Jordan Brew.

ONs IIs fought out an exciting 24-24 draw with Market Harborough IIs. Dan Lamb jinked his way over in the dying seconds and Jordan Spittle kicked the all important conversion.

The IIIs beat Dunstablians IIs in their Merit Table clash by 24-10.

Scott Oldham scored two tries and Mark Turner and Jason Edmunds one apiece. Ali Wood and Ash Young added a conversion each.

Towcestrians 50 Newbury Blues 14

High-flying Towcestrians made it five wins from five in South West 1 East after claiming a bonus-point victory over Newbury Blues.

Tows’ forwards quickly put down a marker, Eugene Baxter crashing over for a score which was converted by Falvey.

Minutes later the forwards showed their dominance again, driving the heavier Blues pack over the line for scrum-half Dave Stocks to score. Shortly after, Craig Holton bustled over from a scrum which was won against the head.

It was now or never for the Blues as the backs, who moved the ball well, broke the line only to lose the ball after looking dangerous.

The ball was then gathered by Tows full-back Falvey who then kicked ahead and had the pace to collect and score a scintillating bonus point try.

To rub salt into the wounds of the visitors, Tows stole a lineout, the maul resulting in a try for prop Zac Osborne-Wright, Falvey again converting to end the half.

Blues returned from the dressing room looking to make a fight of it. Pressure at the beginning of the half lead to their centre picking a great angle at pace to score under the posts. This seemed to whip Tows back into action as Ben Roe got on to the score sheet.

It was then a case of déjà vu as Stocks gained his second try off of a scrum which was won against the head.

Blues going to uncontested scrum rather spiked Tows guns for the game’s last quarter.

Replacement centre Will Dunkley, returning from injury, showed great pace to score Tows’ eighth and final try which, with Falvey’s conversion, took them to 50 points.

Newbury had the last say, however, scoring and converting with the games last kick.

Tows IIs won 35-17 at Ampthill, while the veteran team were beaten 35-7 at Olney.

Mens Own IIs 40 Heathens 0 (match abandoned)

Injuries to Heathens centre Tom Williams and Mens Own IIs’ Luke Maud brought their game to an early conclusion with 
22 minutes left on the clock.

Own had led 40-0, having all the firepower where it mattered in their friendly fixture at Ashton.

Williams suffered a double fracture of the tibia and while waiting for an ambulance Maud suffered what is understood to be an epileptic seizure which required a second ambulance to be called.

With the resulting on-field treatment, the referee made the wise decision to blow a premature final whistle.

A convicted paedophile from Northampton has admitted that he retrieved more than 3,000 indecent images of young boys the day after he had been sentenced to a community order for possessing 90,000 similar photographs.

Charles Pearce, aged 60, of Semilong Road, Northampton, was given a three-year community order in May this year after he pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing, via a file share system, indecent images of children.

Despite the ‘starting point’ of the sentence for the offences being two years in custody, Recorder David Mason decided that Pearce, who was given a five-year prison sentence in 1980 for abusing a young boy, would benefit more from attending a sexual offences programme.

But Northampton Crown Court heard on Thursday that within hours of being sentenced Pearce went to a warehouse where he had stored a number of DVDs and VHS tapes featuring abuse of teenage boys.

The indecent images and videos, 349 of which were of the most serious category, were uncovered by officers in Northamptonshire Police’s ‘dangerous person’s’ unit when they went round to his home in June.

Mary Loram, prosecuting, said: “In interview he admitted that he had all the material prior to his arrest but said he did not have the strength to hand it over to police.”

After a full search of his home officers also uncovered a collection of newspaper cuttings relating to missing children and a pair of boy’s underpants.

A number of the video tapes also showed footage of Pearce abusing a teenage boy and, after contacting the victim , police found these offence took place some time ago.

In interview, Pearce admitted that he had looked at indecent images of children “most days” since he had been convicted of possessing illegal images.

Matthew Lowe, mitigating, said his client fully accepted that within hours or days of his conviction in May he had accessed child abuse images and brought back old DVDs and video tapes from a warehouse.

Judge Michael Fowler, sentencing, said Pearce had an obsession with collecting images of young teenage boys.

He said: “You amassed a vast collection of indecent images over a number of years. Even after you were dealt with in court in May you returned to a stash of indecent images. You also added to these with images from the internet.”

Pearce was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison. He will serve half before being released on licence. He must sign the sex offender’s register for the rest of his life.

Detective Sergeant Gan Thayanithy, from the Dangerous Persons Management Unit, said: “Pearce is a very dangerous man who, despite a recent conviction, continued to access abusive images of children.

“Sex offenders are monitored very closely and the fact that Pearce was re-arrested so swiftly when new evidence came to light bears testimony to that.

“We are committed to protecting children and will continue to trace those who abuse children, whether they are in Northamptonshire or in other parts of the world – there is no hiding place.

“Anybody who has further information about Pearce should come forward, no matter how far it dates back. Any information received will be held in the strictest confidence.”

Police also linked Pearce to a man in the United States with whom he had been sharing images. Details have been passed to CEOP and are being investigated by international authorities.

Almost 200 people were on hand for the the annual Bowls Northamptonshire presentation lunch at the new venue of the new Freemason’s Hall at Lodge Farm in Northampton.

The majority of the 2014 competition winners for the outdoors season were in attendance .

The event was hosts by the two county presidents, Anita Petrucci, of the women’s section, and John Cooper, of the men’s section, while Bowls England president Adie Lloyd and his wife were special guests.

Lloyd made presentations to the three county winners at this year’s National Championships, which included Higham Ferrers Town’s Chloe Wordingham, who was crowned the Under-18 Sutton Winson Open Singles champion.

Jamie Walker (Northampton West End) and Katie Smith (New Lount, Leicestershire) were recognised for their achievement of winning the National Mixed Pairs as were Rebecca Wigfield (Desborough Town) and Darren Childs (Kingsthorpe), who, along with Smith and Walker, won the Mixed Pairs title at Leamington.

The Midland Counties Bowling Association secretary, Stan Orton, presented trophies to three Midland Counties Championship winners from Northamptonshire.

They were David Walker (Kingsthorpe, Under-25 Singles), Keith Height, Matt Pownall and Callum Height (Thrapston, Triples) and Jason Hall, Peter Ward, John Haines and Phil Exley (Desborough Town, Fours).

The County Championship and competition winners were then presented with their trophies by the two county presidents.

The event concluded with a raffle for around 25 prizes, which raised £430.

It was also confirmed that £1,200 had been raised for Petrucci’s charity, the Cynthia Spencer Hospice in Northampton, over the year and she presented a cheque to Sue Bowness of the hospice’s fundraising team.

Cooper, meanwhile, was able to present a cheque for £1,600 to the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, who were represented by fundraising co-ordinator Stuart Wilkins.

Northants get new season started

Northants men get their new indoor season up and running with the traditional match against the president’s home club on Thursday.

President Trevor Tilley will, therefore, lead his team against Wellingborough IBC (2pm).

Northants team - Rink one: Roger Miller (Desborough), Brian Langton (Rushden Town), Trevor Tilley (Wellingborough), Richard Somerton (Brackley & District). Rink two: Will Clelland, Bob Tingle (both Desborough), Don Scott (Brackley & District), Ted Guiver (Wellingborough). Rink three: Jim Diver, Norman Gibb (both Desborough), Len Smith (Wellingborough), Brian Sherwood (Rushden Town). Rink four: John Smith (Kettering Lodge), Richard Upton (Brackley & District), Mike Weatherill, Bob Sullivan (both Desborough). Rink five: Tony Dicks (Daventry), Stuart Lowe (Brackley & District), Tony Warren (Northampton & District), Geoff Harris (Rushden Town). Rink six: Peter Mellor, Keith Howlett (both Desborough), Geoff Allen (Daventry), Tony Weston (Northampton & District).

Reserves: Dave Williamson, Bob Brown (both Kingsthorpe), Mark Courtney (Daventry).

Ladies get season underway

Northants women get their new campaign started on Monday afternoon.

The county will take on Desborough in a friendly encounter (2pm).

Northants team - Rink one: Celia Morris, Jane Maloy, Yvonne McKee, Brenda Bishop (all Kingsthorpe). Rink two: Pat Starsmore (Kettering Lodge), Elaine Urquhart (Brackley & District), Joan Bryan, Audrey Height (both Kettering Lodge). Rink three: Velda Cooper (Rushden Town), Joyce Burns (Northampton & District), Barbara Oliver (Daventry), Sharon Tansley (Kingsthorpe). Rink four: Donna Williamson (Kingsthorpe), Pam Sallaway (Rushden Town), Jan Hunt (Wellingborough), Joyce Porter (Northampton & District). Rink five: Lynn Upton, Elsie Hatton (both Brackley & District), Chris Cooper (Wellingborough), Joan Watts (Daventry). Rink six: Vicki Rushall, Sylvia Plant (both Daventry), Barbara Haseldine (Rushden Town), C Woolhead. Travelling Reserves: Val Scott, Sue Prior (both Brackley & District), Sue Ellerby (Rushden Town). Non-travelling Reserve: Elaine Munton (Kingsthorpe).

Weekend tour raises £312 for charity

Bowls Northamptonshire indoor president Trevor Tilley has chosen Prostate Cancer UK as his charity to support throughout his year in office.

The recent weekend tour to Cardiff produced a good start to his fundraising efforts with £312 being raised.

A raffle was held after the match at Cardiff IBC and the Welsh club donated £50 to Tilley.

During the weekend, the tourists held a book on results of matches with Terry James acting as Bookmaker, and this produced a surplus of £74 while a raffle held on the coach home raised £188 with all the prizes having been donated by the players themselves.

Tilley was pleased with the result of this charitable giving, especially the exceedingly generous support for the raffle on the coach.

Collingtree Park booked a trip to Spain to play in the grand final of the Mail on Sunday Team Classic after beating Willow Valley 3½-1½ at home in the ninth round of the national event.

Andy Billson and Andy Castell got the hosts off to the ideal start against their Yorkshire opponents as they walked in with 4&3 and 6&4 victories respectively under their belts.

Although Brendon Moss lost the final tie 4&3 and Liam Davies halved his game, the home victory had already been confirmed after Dan Messom closed out his match on the 18th hole.

Collingtree will be joined in the Grand Final at El Rompido in Spain next month by Seaton Carew, Worthing and The Shire London Club.

Shires Junior Golf Tour

Luke Barney (Overstone Park) fired the leading round in the penultimate event of the 2014 Shires Junior Golf Tour as he bagged 40 points at Silverstone.

Club-mate Andrew Watson was just a single point behind in the runners-up spot in the Gold Division.

The Silver Division also saw a one point victory as Sam Coote (Kibworth) nudged in front of Wellingborough’s Tigers Adams (38). Elijah Woodward (Northampton) finished third on 37.

Hurst Popat, from Glen Gorse, secured the top prize in the nine-hole comp by one from Kingsthorpe’s Harry Withrington and Northants County’s Kate Amos, who both carded 19 points.

NGU Knockout Finals

County Strokeplay champion Nick Herridge couldn’t add the 2014 County Matchplay title to his collection as he lost 3&2 to Wellingborough’s Kyson Lloyd in the final at Overstone Park GC.

The Brampton Heath member had to settle for the runners-up spot again in the Champion of Champions tournament a few days later at Kettering GC as home club champion Michael Campbell clinched the win.

Campbell, who also won the event 12 months earlier, carded a round of 70 to finish two strokes clear, with Paul Booth (Whittlebury) in third on 72.

Northants County duo Ross Mason and John McPhee overcame Cold Ashby’s Paul Askew and Stuart Nicholas 3&2 in the Fourball KO Final, while Martin Jinks (Oundle) defeated Stuart Bates (Farthingstone) in the Singles KO Final with one hole to spare.

NGU Izzard Trophy

Darrin Keech, Stuart Swann and John Allen took full advantage of local knowledge as they won the Izzard Trophy on their home course at Kettering with 100 points.

The Overstone Park trio of Darren Parke, Mark Tindle and Stephen Moore (99) came closest to snatching the top prize but had to settle for second spot.

On a difficult day for scoring with the wet conditions and fast greens, defending champions Farthingstone finished in third as Graham Clinton, Adam Smith and Michael Barnett hit a combined points score of 88.

Players from the same three teams carried off the top three individual prizes as Allen (37) beat Parke on countback, with Barnett a single point adrift in third.

Kingsthorpe

Birdies on the fifth, 10th, 11th and 16th holes helped Carl Jonas clinch the October Medal with a magnificent round of net 63. Scott Caswell (65) led the second section scoring by one from Paul Ritchie.

Whittlebury

A run of birdies at the 11th, 16th and 18th holes proved decisive for Patrick Fitzsimmons in the October Medal as he beat Mike Granville on countback after both carded a magnificent round of net 65.

Delapre

Gary Wray recorded his third club victory in just over a fortnight as he clinched the Fred Coleman Pairs title with Tim Pitwood after posting 47 points.

Northants County

Club member Tom Murray was the perfect host for Geoff Owen from Kenilworth as the duo won the Fourball Betterball Stableford with an excellent score of 42 points.

Old Guys Rule! That’s what it says on the popular brand of t-shirts – and the old guys of Castle Ashby’s ‘Youth’ side proved it on Sunday.

Leaving several ‘crack’ teams trailing in their wake, they topped the opening round of this year’s new-look six-leg Castle Ashby AT Winter League, seemingly without raising too much of a sweat and while taking two of the top four individual spots.

Team Guru’s Kian Wardle took top weight – 16 bream plus some tench and roach all on corn and pole – for 48lb with ‘Ashby A Team’s Dick Rogers, also on the brickyard, getting 30-10. ‘Ashby Youth’s Keith Garrett landed 29-12 with team-mate Richard Dunkley next up on 29-5.

‘Youth finished on 43 with Guru tied on points with Milton Keynes but going second on weight by 112-13 to 91-11.

This year has seen a reduction from 10 to eight anglers per side, while the number of teams has increased by two to 10.

STANWICK’s mirror known as spike has been caught by Craig Murby at a new high of 33-2. Neil Alexander had a 31 common, also from Elsons, in a week which saw at least five other 20s landed at the complex.

WHITE Hart Flore, Tofts: Kevin Follwell 135-8, Paul Jackson 101 and, on a ‘busman’s holiday’, Barby Banks owner Richard Bubb 94lb.

COUNTY vets, midweek, Canons Top: Bob Spencer 91lb (12 carp), Pat Neil 84-8, Paul Lafflin 37-12.

TOWCESTER vets, Dog Lane: carp ruled, Geoff Cooke 59-11, Chris Howard 28-12, Graham Martin 26-13.

MOBBS Miller, Peatling Parva: Stuart Cheetham 42lb, Paul Nicholls 39-10; Tony Granfield 25lb.

CASTLE Ashby opens: midweek, Scotland, Bob Reed 25-12, Keith Bishop 22-14, Pete Gibson 19-11; Saturday, Scotland, Mike Dizailie 54-12, Grant Howie 25-6, Shaun Smart 17.

FLORE & Brockhall, Tofts: Kelly Humphries 15-2, Brian Johnson 7lb, Paul Humphries 6-6. Rob Rawlins...one gudgeon. No, it really is not nice to laff at the lad’s misfortune. Ho, ho...

WITH 38 fishing Towcester’s annual charity open on Castlethorpe cut, this year’s event attracted a near-record, for modern times, entry – though four decades back it used to pull in some 350 rods.

Tommy Boyce, who like me can probably just about remember the 350 peg era, won with 7-10 of roach and skimmers. Steve Wright had 6-11 and Loll Breach 4-6.

CASTLE, Crescent Lake silverfish do: Jeff Rice 5-4, Bob Spencer 4-12, Geoff Lewis 3-8.

FOLLOWING proliferation of red signal crayfish in Abington Park Lake, the club is asking everyone who fishes there to get as many out as they can and humanely ‘dispose’ of them in their bins at home.

FIXTURES: Tuesday October 14, Olney Ouse open, 01234 240061.

The past week has been a pretty good one for the Cobblers, with a solid JPT win at Portsmouth coming four days after being denied a win at Wycombe in the final minute of the game.

So what have we learned about the team in the past seven days? Our man Jefferson Lake takes a look...

1. There is good depth in the squad. As it stands, seven players are due to miss the game against Burton Albion on Saturday and while the club has been in that situation before, it has never withstood such a level of absentees and continued to get good results. Wycombe’s late equaliser is all that has come between the team and three straight away wins and the team are just five points off the top of the table.

2. The squad has multiple and varied goalscoring threats. David Moyo became the eighth player to score for the team when he notched on Tuesday night, which is a good statistic and even better when you consider Marc Richards has scored eight times and Kaid Mohamed and Ivan Toney have four each. Ryan Cresswell’s header at Wycombe is also encouraging from a ‘set-piece capabilities’ point of view.

3. Losing Marc Richards is a huge blow. The stats speak for themselves - no player in Sky Bet League Two has scored more goals than Richards and he was well on course to go through the 20-goal barrier this season. As well as that, Richards is as close to a guaranteed goal poacher that you’re going to get. He is a class act, the best performer of the summer signings, and someone who will be badly missed through injury.

4. The players are willing to fight for each other - but have to learn when to keep calm. The events in the aftermath of Wycombe’s equaliser on Saturday seem to have horrified and amused in equal measure but the Football Association aren’t impressed, as their charge to both clubs for failing to control players illustrates. There’s nothing wrong with ‘fighting spirit’ but it can’t be allowed to spill over.

5. Chris Wilder’s reputation is growing by the week. Going into this weekend’s games, the Cobblers are fifth and Oxford - who Wilder left in January - are 20th. When the move was done, Oxford were sixth and Northampton 24th. The progress has been clear for all to see and it is no surprise to see Wilder linked, however tenuously, with the Scunthorpe job. Such things will only become increasingly common.

A woman in the Briar Hill area of Northampton forced a robber to flee empty handed after she defended herself.

The woman was with her child, who was in a pushchair, in the park area between Hunsbarrow Road and Ringway when a man walked past, turned around and demanded money.

The woman said she didn’t have any and, following a verbal altercation, the man reached for her coat pocket saying he would take her phone. The woman defended herself and the man ran off empty-handed towards Ringway.

The incident happened about 10.45am this morning (Thursday).

The offender is described as white, in his early 20s, about 5ft 7in, with an average build. He had mousey-brown, thick spiky hair and spoke with a local accent. He was wearing black jogging bottoms, a black hooded top and Nike trainers.

It is believed that two women may have been sitting in a nearby bus shelter at the time and may have seen the incident.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, are asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A sat nav and keys were stolen from a house in Duston, Northampton, after burglars got in through an unlocked door.

The property in Circus End was broken into sometime between 12.30pm and 1pm on Wednesday, October 1 and the items were taken from the hallway.

Witnesses or anyone with any information can call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

A student from Northamptonshire is encouraging people to urinate in the shower to help save water.

University of East Anglia (UEA) students Chris Dobson, of Kettering, and his friend Debs Torr have started a campaign called #gowiththeflow.

Mr Dobson said that if the 15,000 UEA students urinated during their morning shower they would save enough money to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool 26 times every year.

Based on an average flush costing 2p, it is estimated that £7.30 per year, per person, could be saved - a total of £430 million a year if everyone in the UK took part.

Mr Dobson said: “We’ve done the maths, and this project stands to have a phenomenal impact. Imagine how big an impact it could have if we could get everyone in East Anglia, or even the UK, to change their morning habits.

“The trouble is, most people don’t realise that we use fresh water much faster than it can be naturally replenished.”

Mr Dobson, a former Bishop Stopford School student, accepted that the campaign was divisive and would not appeal to everyone.

He said: “The campaign has been really divisive - people either seem to love it or hate it.

“But that’s exactly what we want. We’re trying to challenge conventional behaviour; to start a debate on a resource that we largely take for granted.”

To encourage people to get on board, Chris and Debs are offering 15 £10 vouchers to people willing to declare on Facebook or Twitter that they wee in the shower, using the hastag ‘#gowiththeflow’.

The two students are representing UEA in Npower’s national Future Leader’s Challenge, encouraging students to come up with an environmental initiative on campus.

The campaign can be followed on Facebook and Twitter and ‘@npgowiththeflow’

Tennessee Williams’ Cat On A Hot Tin Roof continues its run at the Royal & Derngate in Northampton

The production is directed by Royal & Derngate’s artistic director James Dacre with original music by the band White Lies.

It tells the tale of family tension on a hot night in the Deep South as the family gather for the 65th birthday of the patriarch and start a battle over the family inheritance.

This a new production which the theatre has created in collaboration with Northern Stage, Newcastle, and Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre.

Mariah Gale whose many credits with the Royal Shakespeare Company include Juliet, Ophelia, Miranda and Portia, plays the iconic role of Maggie the Cat.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof can be seen at the Royal & Derngate theatre until Saturday, October 18, with performances at 7.45pm and matinees at 2.30pm on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Tickets are priced from £10 to £29.

They can be booked by calling the box office on 01604 624811 or by going online at www.royaland
derngate.co.uk.

The story of Robin Hood will be told as you have never seen it before at The Castle Theatre in Wellingborough on Wednesday.

The characters are all a bit older than in the usual telling of the legend and the show, called Ha Ha Hood, stars Hi De Hi’s Su Pollard as Maid Marian and comedy double act Cannon and Ball.

The show also stars Ben Langley as Robin Hood.

The story is told as a comic romp and is set ten years after a messy divorce between Robin and Marian.

Circumstances mean that the formerly loving couple are forced to join forces once again to fight the Sheriff of Nottingham

This is the latest production from the team who also produced Ha Ha Holmes.

Tickets for the show on Wednesday, October 15, at 7.30pm are priced £20 and can be purchased by calling 01933 270 007 or online at www.
thecastle.org.uk

A follow-up to the hit musical Dreamboats and Petticoats, called Dreamboats and Miniskirts, takes the story on to a new musical era.

The sequel takes on the story of Bobby and Laura and Norman and Sue and is on stage at Milton Keynes Theatre until October 11.

This show is set in 1963 just as the Beatles and the Merseyside sound are taking pop fans by storm.

The musical showcases some of the best known hits of the 60s including Twist And Shout, Handy Man, Pretty Woman and One Fine Day.

The show has been written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran who are the writing team behind a string of TV hits including Goodnight Sweetheart, Birds of a Feather, Shine on Harvey Moon and The New Statesman.

For tickets call 0844 871 7652.
Alternatively you can visit www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes.

Ben Foden wants Saints to show Sale Sharks just why Franklin’s Gardens has become such a fortress when the two sides square up on Saturday.

The Sharks head to Northampton full of belief having claimed an impressive 25-14 success against Wasps at the AJ Bell Stadium last weekend.

Steve Diamond’s side can also boast a victory in their most recent league meeting with Saints, with the 19-6 win at Salford in March a stand-out result in Sale’s successful campaign.

But Foden is determined to ensure there will be no repeat this weekend and is keen to continue the good form at the Gardens, where Saints have lost just one Aviva Premiership game since the start of last season.

“Sale are on a high at the moment, they’re winning games,” said Foden, who joined Saints from the Sharks in 2009.

“They had a good win against Wasps last weekend so they’ll take confidence from that.

“(Danny) Cipriani is playing really well, he’s starting to use the guys around him. (Johnny) Leota and (Mark) Jennings are forming a good centre partnership.

“(Dave) Seymour has also been getting a lot of plaudits from getting turnovers and making a mess of the breakdowns so we know they’ve got some quality players and they’ll cause a problem if we don’t put in a good performance.

“We’ve done our homework and we’ve got plenty to work on after last weekend’s win at London Irish.

“Hopefully, come this weekend we’ll prove why this place is a fortress and why it’s tough for teams to come and get points off us here.”

Alex Nicholls is confident he is firmly back in Cobblers contention after completing a full 90 minutes for the club at Portsmouth on Tuesday night.

The striker was named in a Town starting 11 for the first time in almost two years for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie against Portsmouth, having fully rehabilitated from a badly broken leg and proved his fitness during a successful loan spell at Exeter City.

While getting through a full Northampton game was of paramount importance, Nicholls almost capped his evening in grand style, bringing the travelling support to their feet when he went through one-on-one with goalkeeper Paul Jones in the second half.

But the shot was a rushed one and Jones was able to block it away for a corner as the Hollywood script went unfollowed.

“I got a bit excited and pulled the trigger too early,” admitted Nicholls, who scored eight times in 18 games before being injured in October 2012. “That’s something that I’ve got to work on and something that will come back.

“The second one was a bit of a difficult one and I slipped as I hit it but that was tired legs more than anything. Maybe I should have ran it into the corner.”

A goal would have enhanced his case for a start against Burton Albion on Saturday but Nicholls feels he is back in the frame at Sixfields.

He has had no reactions to his long-term injury all season and is confident any rust in his game will be eradicated with more competitive playing time.

“I think I’m back in contention,” he said. “There are no problems with the leg and I’ve shown over the past few weeks that I can play for 90 minutes.

“There are still a couple of bits to my game that still need sharpening up but the more games I play the better I’ll get.

“When you’ve been out for so long you don’t forget but there are areas of the pitch where you do certain movements that can get a bit rusty and that only improves with games.”

Artwork by notorious prisoner Charles Bronson raised more than £30,000 in a sale by a Northamptonshire auctioneer.

Bronson, who now goes under the name of Charles Salvador, put up 200 lots in the auction by JP Humberts of Towcester. Every lot sold with buyers coming from the UK, America, Canada and Japan.

Auctioneer Jonathan Humbert said: “Undoubtedly this was a successful sale with global interest as we predicted and buyers in the room, on the telephone and online.”

Having recently changed his name by Deed Poll, Charles ‘Salvador’ as he is now known, made a final piece of artwork under his ‘old name’ of Bronson which sold for £990 whilst the first piece of artwork under his new name realised £800. A copy of the ‘Bronson’ film script sold for £660.

“Undoubtedly Mr Salvador’s work has now met with critical acclaim and it is good that a proportion of the sale proceeds will be going to The Brain Tumour Trust and Keech Cottage Hospice at Luton,” Mr Humbert added.

J P Humbert Auctioneers are already planning more ‘crime collection’ sales with a ‘Great Train Robbery Sale’ in February 2015 and a Ronnie Kray Sale in March 2015.

“Whilst crime does not pay – there are plenty of people willing to pay for crime related items,” he said.

An elderly woman has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a car.

Shortly before 9.30am yesterday (Thursday), a red Mitsubishi Lancer, driven by a 57-year old man from Rugby, was travelling along Church Lane in Church Brampton when it was in collision with a pedestrian.

The pedestrian, a 74-year old woman from Church Brampton, was taken to Northampton General Hospital serious head injuries.

Witnesses to this incident, or anyone who has any information, is asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101 or call the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615.

Northampton Saints have created a new award in memory of brave Luis Ghaut, who lost his battle against cancer last month.

The Luis Ghaut Saintsman Award will reward the contribution of one young player whose commitment to their team’s cause, positive attitude and fair play has stood out during that day’s particular tournament.

The award will be handed out for the first time during the half-time interval of Saturday’s Aviva Premiership match between the Saints and Sale Sharks as part of the prize giving to the winners and runners-up of the pre-match Under-8s tournament.

Head of community Sian Haynes says that the new award needs to be seen as a celebration of Luis and how he approached his life.

“Luis was always upbeat, ready to smile, and had an infectiously positive attitude,” she said. “He was also a talented young rugby player who was committed to helping his team succeed.

“What has been important for us is that we celebrate his personality, and to promote similar attitudes among young rugby players. Having discussed the idea with his family, we believe that the Luis Ghaut Award is an appropriate way to celebrate his memory.

“It is also relevant for us to be starting this award at the Sale game this Saturday, at which Luis was going to be a mascot. And hopefully it will be a highlight in pre-match tournaments from now on.”

Luis will be remembered in a special feature in the match programme this Saturday, including contributions from Tom Wood and Alex Corbisiero. His clubmates from Northampton Old Scouts will provide the Guard of Honour for the teams, after bucket-shaking on behalf of LU15 Fundraising, with Luis’s younger sister Georgia running out with the Saints team as mascot.

The Pisi brothers and Kahn Fotuali’i are on course for an autumn collision with England after being named in the Samoa squad for the upcoming November internationals.

Saints will be without the trio for the majority of the month, with Samoa’s 31-man squad facing three fixtures, concluding with a game against the Red Rose at Twickenham on November 22.

Ken Pisi, George Pisi and Fotuali’i will hope to stake their claim for inclusion in that enticing tussle by impressing against Italy on November 8 and in the clash with Canada in France a week later.

England duo Tom Wood and Dylan Hartley return to the Saints squad for Saturday’s Aviva Premiership with Sale Sharks at Franklin’s Gardens (kick-off 3.15pm).

Wood starts after missing the past three games with a back injury, while Hartley, who had a similar problem, is named among the replacements, with Mike Haywood again at hooker.

Winger Jamie Elliott will make his first start of the season, having played 40 minutes for the Wanderers on Monday night.

Wales star George North is on the bench with next Saturday’s trip to Racing Metro in the Rugby Champions Cup seemingly entering the thinking.

Lee Dickson is fit to take his place at scrum-half after being forced off with a shoulder injury at London Irish last weekend.

Saints: Foden; K Pisi, G Pisi, Burrell, Elliott; Myler, L Dickson; A Waller, Haywood, Ma’afu; Lawes, Craig; Wood, Fisher, Manoa.

Replacements: Hartley, E Waller, Denman, C Day, Clark, Fotuali’i, Wilson, North.

Sale: McLean; Brady, Leota, Jennings, Arscott; Cipriani, Cusiter; Harrison, Jones, Cobilas; Beaumont, Paterson; Lund, Seymour, Easter.

Replacements: Neild, de Marchi, Lewis Roberts, Mills, Fihaki, Cliff, Ford, Forsyth.

Fixture: Northampton Town v Burton Albion (Sky Bet League Two)

Date/kick-off time: Saturday, October 11 (2pm kick-off)

Venue: Sixfields Stadium, Northampton

Weather forecast: 14C, rain

Outs and doubts: Northampton: Evan Horwood (tendonitis), Lewis Hornby (tendonitis), Ian Morris (dislocated knee), Emile Sinclair (ankle), Zander Diamond (ankle), Danny Alfei (hamstring), Marc Richards (hamstring). Burton: Jimmy Phillips (knee)

Betting: Northampton 7/5, draw 12/5, Burton 11/5

Form guide: Northampton WDWLWW, Burton LLWLLL

Likely line-ups: Northampton (4-4-2): Archer; Tozer, Cresswell, Collins, Robertson; Hackett, Carter, Byrom, Mohamed; D’Ath, Toney. Burton (4-4-2): McLoughlin; Edwards, Sharps, Cansdell-Sherriff, Taft; Akins, Mousinho, Weir, McDonald; McGurk, Beavon

Last time out: Northampton beat Portsmouth 2-1 (Moyo, Mohamed), Burton lost 3-0 to Doncaster Rovers

Most recent meeting: Saturday, April 12 - Cobblers 1 Burton 0 (Marquis)

Cobblers connection: The injured Zander Diamond will be denied a Cobblers run-out against his former team while Jacob Blyth, who spent time on loan at Sixfields last season, is likely to be on the bench for the Brewers. Further back, current Burton goalkeeping coach Kevin Poole made his league debut as a teenager on loan to the Cobblers from Villa in November 1984 and in recent seasons has been in the Burton squad, playing against Rotherham in 2010 at the age of 47.

Jefferson Lake’s preview: It seems that, every year, regardless of the changes of team names and playing personnel in Sky Bet League Two, there is a universally-held notion that ‘anyone can beat anyone’.

While such a theory has its flaws, Burton Albion are doing their best to prove it right; having won eight of their first nine games, their form completely flip-flopped to the point where they come to Sixfields on the back of five defeats in six matches.

A side which looked to have the controls firmly set for promotion - and maybe even the league championship - suddenly look infallible.

Their home defeat to Doncaster in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy can perhaps be excused but the league two loss to Cambridge at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday has set a few alarm bells ringing in the Brewers’ camp.

They will be at full strength for their trip to Northampton, with the players who were rested for the midweek game likely to be restored to the starting line-up.

Adam McGurk and Stuart Beavon, son and namesake of the former Cobblers midfielder, will lead their line, with former Sixfields loanee Jacob Blyth due to be among the substitutes.

Town will have to make changes too, and their attacking threat will be diluted by the loss of leading goalscorer Marc Richards, although it is worth noting the team won at Morecambe and almost did so at Wycombe without him in the starting 11.

Much of the attacking emphasis will fall on Ivan Toney, who didn’t have his best game at Wycombe, and Lawson D’Ath, who really should have scored during that game.

Chris Hackett should come back into the side after being given the night off in midweek, while Darren Carter should have done enough to ensure that he is selected in central midfield.

Gregor Robertson returns after suspension but Chris Wilder’s selection hand is still affected by injuries, with centre-back Zander Diamond a notable absentee for a game he would have truly relished against his former club.

Prediction: Cobblers 1 Burton 0