England have named three Saints players in the team for Saturday’s QBE Series opener against New Zealand at Twickenham.

Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes and Tom Wood provide a Saints spine in a familiar looking pack, while Northampton skipper Hartley is the most experienced man in the squad with 57 caps to his name.

Meanwhile, fellow Saint George North will plug the injury gap in Wales’ midfield for the opening game of the autumn series against Australia.

He fills in after Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams failed to overcome injury setbacks in time for the season opener at the Millennium Stadium.

England team to face New Zealand: M Brown (Harlequins); S Rokoduguni (Bath), B Barritt (Saracens), K Eastmond (Bath), J May (Gloucester) ; O Farrell (Saracens) , D Care (Harlequins); J Marler (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Bath), D Attwood (Bath), C Lawes (Northampton), T Wood (Northampton), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), B Vunipola (Saracens).

Replacements: R Webber (Bath), M Mullan (Wasps), K Brookes (Newcastle), G Kruis (Saracens), B Morgan (Gloucester), B Youngs (Leicester), G Ford (Bath), A Watson (Bath).

Wales team to play Australia: L Halfpenny (Toulon); A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), G North (Northampton), J Roberts (Racing Metro), L Williams (Scarlets); D Biggar (Ospreys), R Webb (Ospreys); P James (Bath), R Hibbard (Gloucester), S Lee (Scarlets), J Ball (Scarlets), A-W Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (unattached), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: S Baldwin (Ospreys), G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Scarlets), B Davies (Wasps), J Tipuric (Ospreys), M Phillips (Racing Metro), R Priestland (Scarlets), C Allen (Cardiff Blues).

THURSDAY, Nov 6

MUSIC

Geoff Tooley with the New York Jazz Trio at the Stirrup Cup, Barton Seagrave, 9pm. Free.

Bluegrass Jam Session at Kingsley Park WMC, Npton

THEATRE

Jools Holland, Derngate Auditorium, Guidlhall Rd, N’pton, 7.30pm. 01604 624811

Pete Firman – Trickster, Royal Auditorium, guildhall Rd, N’pton, 7.45pm. 01604 624811

OTHER

Buckby Village Market, free tasting of home-baked Christmas food, 9am to 11am, Community Centre Long Buckby

Northamptonshire Branch of the Royal Army Service Corps and The Royal Corps of Transport meets at the Ex-Servicemans WMC, Sheep Street, N’pton 8pm. Contact Brian Smith 01604 628292

Kettering Stamp & Philatelic Society auction for members, at St Mary’s Primary School, Fuller Street, Kettering, 7.30pm.

Quiz at Monks Park WMC, 259 W’borough Road, Npton, 9pm

New WI in Kingsley, talk on Nordic Walking, 10am in Kingsley Park Methodist Church Rooms Npton.

NAB Mobile Sight Centre visits Oundle Town Centre, Co-op car park, St Osyths Lane, 10am–1pm

The Garden of Delights at NN, Number Nine Guildhall Road, Npton; Mladen Miljanovic exhibition (until Dec 7). www.NNContemporaryArt.org

Cordell Garfield People’s Choice Open 13 winner solo exhibition (until Nov 22). Alfred East Gallery, Sheep Street, Kettering, 10am–4.45pm. Free. www.kettering.gov.uk

FRIDAY, Nov 7

MUSIC

Fund-raising night at St Crispins Club, Duston, 7.30pm–11.30pm. Disco and live music by Jon Martin’s Italian Divorce Band. In aid of 12yr old boy with a brain tumour. Tickets £10. Call Joanne 07745 350167

Open Mic hosted by Hannah Faulkner at The Raven Hotel, Corby, 8.30pm

Kickstart at Kingsley Park WMC, Npton

The Marz, King Billy, Bridge St, N’pton, (followed by a rock disco til 3am)

THEATRE

Snake In The Grass, by Alan Ayckbourn, Wellingborough Museum, 7.45pm. Tickets £7. 01933 276838

Marty Wilde’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Party, Derngate Auditorium, N’pton, 7.30pm. 01604 624811

James Acaster, Royal Auditorium, N’pton, 7.45pm. 01604 624811

Screaming Blue Murder Comedy Club, Underground, Royal & Derngate, N’pton, 8.15pm. 01604 624811

Pete Firman – Trickster, The Core at Corby Cube, 8pm. 01536 470470

OTHER

Quiz Night at Brafield WMC, A428.

Farmers’ Market in Richmond Road car park, Towcester, 9am–1pm.

Bonfire & Fireworks Display at Nicholas Hawksmoor Primary School, Towcester. Gates open 6pm. Tickets (in advance) £4/child 3-16 yrs £3 (£4 on night).

Rev Philip Evans talks to Whitefriars Church Retireds’ Group, Bridge Community Office, Whitefriars Junior School, Rushden, 1.30pm. 01933 676989.

NAB Mobile Sight Centre visits Abington Street, N’pton (near Central Library, 10am–1pm).

Fashion Show by M&Co hosted by Motor Neurone Disease Association at the Tithe Barn, W’bro, 7.30pm. Cost £6

SATURDAY, Nov 8

MUSIC

Billy de Laine, Brafield WMC, A428, from 8pm.

Rock Face , Great Doddington WMC, Lower Street,

“We Will Remember Them” Armistice concert at Church of Holy Sepulchre, Sheep Street, Npton, 7.30pm. 01604 754782

Matt Jackson at Northampton WMC, Sheep Street, Npton

Far From Nashville at Walnut Tree, Blisworth, 9.30pm

Phil Allen at Queens Park WMC, N’pton

Untamed, King Billy, Bridge St, N’pton, (followed by a rock disco til 3am)

Concert at Wilbarston Village Hall with the award-winning Youth Brass Band, 7.30pm. Adults £5.50, 12-16yrs £2, under 12s free.

Infusion at Monks Park WMC, Wellingborough Road, Npton

Dance The Night Away at village hall in Bridge Street, Weldon, 8pm to 11pm. £5, 07718 519480 or email guido@derosa.me.uk

Great Divide at Charles Bradlaugh, Earl St, Npton, 9pm. £2.

The Buggs at Kingsley Park WMC, Npton

J Faye at Kettering Rifle Band Club, Havelock Street, Kettering

Lest We Forget, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Derngate Auditorium, 7.30pm. 01604 624811

THEATRE

Snake In The Grass, by Alan Ayckbourn, Wellingborough Museum, 7.45pm. £7. 01933 276838

Eric And Little Ern, Royal Auditorium, N’pton, 2.30pm/7.45pm. 01604 624811

Jason Byrne, The Core at Corby Cube, 8pm. 01604 624811

OTHER

Bouncing of the Walls graffiti art exhibition, opening night 6pm-midnight at RH Ink Tattoo & Art Gallery, 31 York Rd, N’pton (runs until Nov 30)

Mammoth Grocery Sale at the Corn Market Hall, London Road, Kettering, noon–3pm, organised by the Kettering branch of Save the Children.

Charity Evening of Clairvoyance, Kettering Spiritualist Church, St Peters Avenue, Kettering, 7.30pm. In support of Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion, £2.50 members, £3 guests. www.ketteringspirit.org.uk

Self Defence Course for Women at Stanwick Village Hall, 10am–2pm. www.stanwickvillagehall.org

Wellingborough Ramblers walk (7 miles), start nr the church, Everdon, 10am. 07740 995707

Kingsley Park Methodist Church Coffee Morning in aid of Motor Neurone Disease, 10am–noon, N’pton.

Jumble Sale in the Church Hall, Edinburgh Road, N’pton, 10am. 20p admission.

Afternoon Walk with Northampton & District Ramblers (5.5 miles), 1.30pm Main Street, Grendon (near Half Moon pub).

Morning Walk with Northampton Ramblers (4.75 miles). Meet 10am St John the Baptist, Abthorpe.

Illustrated Talk about Grafton Underwood’s role in war, at All Saints Church, William Street, Kettering, 7.30pm. Entry £3.

Brackley Christmas Wine Festival, inc members of the Association of Small Direct Wine Merchants and local independent suppliers, Town Hall, Market Place, Brackley, noon–6pm, £7. www.brackleywinefestival.co.uk

5k, 10k & 10-mile Obstacle Course Races at Rockingham Castle Grounds (& Nov 9), 8am–5.30pm, car park £2 per car. www.thesuggeringgrace.co.uk £45 adv tickets.

Annual Craft Fair at The Castle Theatre, Castle Way, W’bro, 10am–3pm. www.thecastle.org.uk

Christmas Bazaar, Little Harrowden Church, 2pm

Christmas Craft Fayre, Kingsthorpe Baptist Church (entrance Waitrose car park), 10am–2pm, 20p.

Charity Coffee Morning hosted by Rothwell Ladies Thursday Club at Methodist Church, Market Square, Rothwell, 9.30am–11.30am.

Jumble Sale, Newnham Village Hall, 2pm to 3.30pm. Homemade teas and cakes available

Christmas Bazaar, Little Harrowden Church, 2pm–4.15pm. £3.

Councillor David Mackintosh has surgery at the Community Centre, Olden Road, Rectory Farm, 9am–10am.

The Northampton Vintage Fair, St Matthew’s, The Drive, N’pton. 11am– 3pm. Entry £1, children free.

Brisk Cycle Ride (35-mile loop) to Irchester Country Park taking in the villages of Little Houghton, Castle Ashby, Bozeat and Hinwick. Meet 9.30am Co-op, Stocks Hill, Moulton. www.ctc-northampton.org.uk

Cats Protection Christmas Bazaar, 10am-noon at Christchurch Hall, Christchurch Road, N’pton, adm 50p.

SUNDAY, Nov 9

MUSIC

John Kirby, Brafield WMC, A428, 8pm.

Music, Bingo & Hoy at Queens Park WMC, Npton

Henry Lowther, Simon Spillett and others; a jazz tribute to Miles Davis at The Angel Hotel, High Street, Market Harborough. Members £13, non-members £15. www.harboroughjazz.com

Remembrance Concert by The Arthesis Duo at Church of St Bartholomew, Towcester Road, Greens Norton, 2pm. Tickets £12. In aid of Royal British Legion.

Cats Eyes at Kingsley Park WMC, Npton

Wartime tribute with Jackie at Monks Park WMC, Wellingborough Road, Npton, 4pm–7pm.

Matt Palmer’s Jazz Buddies at The Walnut Tree Inn, Blisworth in the Ellington Suite, noon to 2.30pm. Admission £8

Open Mic hosted by Hannah Faulkner at Ken’s Diner, Finedon, 2pm–4.30pm

OTHER

“Stepping Out” communities at Whitefriars Junior School, Rushden, 10.15am, inc Countryside Walk “the Harrowden Hobble”. www.whitefriarschurch.org.uk

Craft, Gift & Vintage Market, Indoor Market, Newton Road, Rushden, 10am–3pm.

Craft Group, Liburd Room, Whilton Road, Kingsthorpe, 10.30am–1.30pm

Burton Latimer Remembrance Parade, leaves Churchill Way car park at 2pm; 2.30pm Interdenominational service; 3.30pm Wreath laying at War Memorial.

Roade Local History Society placing plaque on the Memorial Green in memory of Royal Canadian Air force crew who died in crash over 70 years ago. www.roadehistorysocietyorg.uk

Walk with Waendel Walkers Club, circular route from The Lamb, Stoke Goldington (6 or 12 miles), 10am. www.waendel.org.uk. 50p entry fee

World War One Commemoration Exhibition by Local History Society, Heritage Centre, High Street, Finedon, 10am–noon.

Morning & Afternoon walks with Northampton & District Ramblers; meet leader 9.30am Greatworth Sports & Social Club; 1.30pm from the club.

Wedding Fayre, many stalls and displays at Brampton Grange. Free entry and goody bags. More info 01604 844717.

Remembrance Sunday special at The Barn Owl pub, Olden Road, Rectory Farm. Curry served at 4pm, live music 5pm.

Remembrance church service at St Lukes Church, Duston, 2.30pm, followed by refreshments at St Lukes Community Centre.

MONDAY, Nov 10

MUSIC

Northampton Live Light Music Concert by the Cantare Singers, Quaker Meeting House, Wellington Street, Npton, 7.30pm

Acoustic Open Mic Night with Jim Hale & Darryl Irons at The Woolpack, Rothwell, 9pm

THEATRE

The Full Monty, Derngate Auditorium, N’pton, 7.30pm. 01604 624811

The Woman In Black, Royal Auditorium, N’pton, .45pm. 01604 624811

TUESDAY, Nov 11

THEATRE

The Rob Horn Quartet at the Wig & Pen, St Giles St, Npton, 9pm. Free entry

Steve Perry at Monks Park WMC, W’bro Road, Npton

THEATRE

The Full Monty, Derngate Auditorium, N’pton, 7.30pm. 01604 624811

The Woman In Black, Royal Auditorium, N’pton, 7.45pm. 01604 624811

Killed, Looking Glass Theatre, The Basement, Newspaper House, 9 Derngate, Npton, 8pm. Tickets £6. www.thelittleboxoffice.com/lgt/

OTHER

Slimming & fitness Class at Stanwick Village Hall, 5.15pm. www.slimandfitclasses.com

“Ageing: To Start You Talking” with Maureen Cross, NASO, St Michaels Road, Npton, 10.30am. 01604 858252.

Informal assembly, 11am at Burton Latimer War Memorial for two minutes silence.

World War One Commemoration Exhibition by Local History Society, Heritage Centre, High Street, Finedon, 10am– noon.

Wellingborough Ramblers walk (6 miles). Start nr The Lamb, Stoke Goldington, 10am. 01604 408499

WEDNESDAY, Nov 12

MUSIC

The Mantas, Wednesday Beat Scene at The Headland, Longland Road, Npton, 8.30pm.

Riverside Blues Band, Wednesday Blues Club at The Malt Shovel Tavern, Bridge Street, Npton, 8.45pm.

The Freight Train Jam at Thomas A Becket, St James Road, Npton, 9pm

Phil’s Might Music Quiz at The Lord Byron, Kingsley, Npton

Tempermental / The Barratts at King Billy, Bridge St, N’pton

THEATRE

The Full Monty, Derngate Auditorium, 2.30pm/7.30pm. 01604 624811

The Woman In Black, Royal Auditorium, 7.45pm. 01604 624811

OTHER

“Life In The Arctic” with Hillary Spurrier., NASO, St Michaels Road, Npton, 7.30pm. 01604 858252.

“Shires Holistics” talk on Lava Shell massage, 7.30pm, Northampton District Scout HQ, Fernie Field, Moulton. Members free, Oohers £3. 07913 615183

NAB Mobile Sight Centre visits Market Square, 10am–1pm; then St Crispin Retirement Village, Duston, 1.45pm–3.15pm

Wellingborough Ramblers walk (8 miles). Start at The Stag, Great Doddington, 9.30am. 01933 676660

Morning Walk with Northampton & District Ramblers (7 miles). 9.30am The Plough Inn, Shutlanger, NN12 7RU.

Morning Strollers Walk with Northampton Ramblers. Meet 10.30am Irchester Country Park.

THURSDAY, Nov 13

MUSIC

All That Jazz at the Stirrup Cup, Barton Seagrave, 9pm. Free entry.

Deaf by Thirty, King Billy, Bridge St, N’pton

THEATRE

The Full Monty, Derngate Auditorium, 7.30pm. Box Office 01604 624811

James Acaster, The Core at Corby Cube. 8pm. 01536 470470.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra returns to Royal & Derngate on Saturday for a special concert of remembrance.

Commemorating the centenary of the start of the First World War, Lest We Forget features reflective excerpts from some colossal choral works and orchestral music of war and peace.

With conductor Nick Davies at the helm, the orchestra will be joined by soprano soloist Elin Manahan Thomas (pictured) and the Northampton Bach Choir, performing music including Faure’s Pie Jesu, Rutter’s Lux Aeturna and Verdi’s emotive Dies Irae. The orchestra will also perform a selection of war and peace-themed music, including Adrian Sutton’s suite based on Michael Morpurgo’s book War Horse, Karl Jenkins’ Benedictus from The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace and Holst’s astrological portrayals of Mars, the bringer of war, and Venus, the bringer of peace.

Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets cost from £15 to £33.50 before fees.

Tickets for adults under 26-year-old cost £11 and £5 for under 14s and schools.

Children aged between two and 13 can join members of the orchestra on the day to explore the music 
and composers of the First World War, with singing and playing activities, musical games and insights from the players about life in the orchestra.

A Behind The Lines workshop for ages two to five years takes place from 11.30am to 12.30pm, followed by a session for six to 13 year-olds from 1pm to 2.30pm.

Sessions cost £3.50 per child. To book, call 01604 624811 or visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk.

Grime-rock metallers Hacktivist start their UK tour with a home-town show at The Craufurd Arms next week.

The band is about to embark on a 20-plus date tour with Dead Harts and The One Hundred.

Hacktivist released their latest single, False Idols, this summer

Recorded and mixed in the band’s own studio, the track again merges the rhymes of co-frontmen J Hurley and Ben Marvin with crushing riffs and jagged tempos.

This year, Hacktivist played their first shows in Australia, toured Europe as special guests of Korn, and opened for Limp Bizkit in France.

The band is currently working on their debut album. They play the Wolverton venue on Friday, November 14.

Doors open at 7.30pm, tickets cost £8 in advance.

Tomorrow night, Rolan Bolan headlines the venue.

The singer-songwriter is the son of Marc Bolan and Gloria Jones.

Doors open at 7.30pm, tickets cost £10.

For more information, visit www.thecraufurdarms.com

Former Supergrass frontman, Gaz Coombes, plays the venue on Tuesday, November 18.

Art Themen returns to The Castle in Wellingborough for a night of contemporary jazz next week.

He will be joined by Dave Newton, Arnie Somogyi and Winston Clifford at the venue on Thursday, November 13. Themen performs on tenor and soprano sax, flute and clarinet, Newton on piano, Somogyi on bass and Clifford on Drums.

Somogyi is well known to the venue as a performer with local roots and his Secrets of the City show.

Doors open at 8pm. Tickets cost £12.50 and are available in advance by calling 01933 270 007 or online at www.thecastle.org.uk

Next Friday, guitarist José María Gallardo del Rey will join the Fiori Musicali orchestra to perform Joaquin Rodrigo’s composition for classical guitar and orchestra Concierto de Aranjuez.

It is Rodrigo’s best-known work and established his reputation as one of the most significant Spanish composers of the 20th century.

Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets cost from £18.

Original ‘dreamboats’ Marty Wilde, Eden Kane and John Leyton will take to the stage for Marty Wilde’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Party at Royal & Derngate in Northampton tomorrow night.

The late 1950s and early 60s are remembered by many as some of the most exciting years in the history of music, with the arrival of rock ‘n’ roll.

The trio will be performing their own hits and collaborating live on stage.

The ‘teen idols’ of their day, Marty Wilde, John Leyton and Eden Kane join forces with The Wildcats and Nancy Ann Lee for this show.

Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets cost from £23.50 before fees.

For more details, call 01604 624811 or visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk

On Sunday, November 16, Youth In Concert heads to the theatre with performances from county choirs.

Tickets cost from £10 before fees and concessions are available.

Doors open at 6pm.

Golden Horse comfortably overcame their second-round hurdle to make progress in the NFA Sunday Vase.

Gareth Errington and Jake Hogben both hit doubles as Horse saw off FC Jeckyll 6-2 at the Racecourse.

Charlie Whiting and Jamie Jollands were also on target for the visitors. Sam Anderson and Jamie Campbell replied for Jeckyll.

Billing United are out of the competition after they were pipped 3-2 at Corby Hotspur. Ryan Comery and Chris Wilson were the men on target for beaten Billing.

Karl Hoy netted a brace in Roade’s 6-1 stroll against Nene. Alex McNellie, Dane Salmon, Denham Salmon and Ashley Gardener all struck singles.

Thorplands Club 81 Reserves will join Roade in the next round after a 2-1 home success over Kettering Rising Sun. Morris Hogg and Aaron Childs scored the decisive goals.

There were goals aplenty in last weekend’s NTFA MDH Teamwear Cup first round matches.

Charlie Wixon helped himself to five in FC Victoria’s 12-1 thrashing of Real Roochers. Thomas Murfitt (2), Craig Cotton (2), Lee Cotton, Jordan Casey, Daniel McWilliams and Jason Bates also scored.

Fox & Hounds and AFC Crown fought out a 4-4 draw before Crown won 5-4 on penalties. David Lugg (2), Elliott Newstead and Reece Gartland all scored for Fox.

Troy Foames netted for MDS Rangers but couldn’t prevent them from a 3-1 defeat at AFC Hackleton.

Jonathan Shakespeare, Fabian Brown and Adam Quigley were all on the mark to lead Kingsthorpe Wanderers to a 3-0 win over Lord Byron.

FC Fotogold came out on top of a nine-goal thriller at The District, winning 5-4 courtesy of strikes from Damian Czyiewski (2), Artaur Dembowski, Michael Grablowski and Lukasz Ziobrowski.

The game between Thorplands Club 81 and Head Quarters saw 13 goals, seven of them going to Thorplands thanks to efforts from Jamie Hayter-Goodwin (2), Richard Freeman (2), Theo Sterling (2) and Brandon Ranft.

Kislingbury secured a 5-2 home win over AFC Dee, while Wootton Fields Wanderers won 4-1 at Royal All Stars.

The only Ken Parker Cup tie to take place on Sunday saw Standens Barn beat Windmill Warriors 4-1. Ben Foster scored twice in the win.

In the premier division, St Margaret’s went top of the pile with a 3-2 win at FC Gallery.

Gokhan Ulker, Sylvain Pabouef and Joe Evans were the men on target as Maggies went a point clear at the summit.

Spartak recorded a 3-1 win at Devonshire Club to move top of division one. Jamie Ribano, Matty Silecchia and Will Briscoe got the goals.

AFC Obelisk United suffered their fifth defeat in six division two games with an 8-1 home loss to FC Locomotiv Moulton.

Chris Fury led the Loco scoring with two, while there were singles from Chris Venn, Jason Nixon, Luke Wilson, Kyle Daniels, Ashley Hawes and Joe Bonham.

Chris Moore was the two-goal matchwinner as Butcher Loco remained top of division three with a 2-1 win at Hartwell Forest. Michael Winch replied for Hartwell. Second-placed Zedi United hammered MDS Rangers Reserves 7-1. Dan Martin claimed a hat-trick, with the others coming from Luke Pankewycz, Don Harris and Ross Fontella.

AFC Pioneers moved up to third thanks to a 4-0 win over Northampton Hotspur. Tom Brockbank, Chris Hales and Thomas Antwi (2) netted.

Mark Kallenbach, Jake Mayhew and Rikki Roberts all found the net for Brafield in a 3-1 success at Royals Reserves.

Division four top dogs Spartak Reserves handed out a 15-1 tonking to bottom club Vesta.

Ali Foote led the scoring with four, assisted by Liam Norton (2), Toby Brand (2), Lewis Curtis (2), James Nolan, Graham Letts, Danny Hearn, Aaron Tindall and Harry Mundy. Dan Faulkner hit a consolation for visiting Vesta.

AFC Thorpe were also among the goals as they cruised to a 14-0 win over The Dons. Strikes came from Luke Neill, Matthew Phillips (2), Josh Neill, Byron O’Regan (3), Ryan Thompson (2), Kyle Genner, Ollie Britten, Ivan Cruz, Adam Hillyard and an own goal.

Billing United beat Hartwell Forest Reserves 6-2, Thorplands Club 81 saw off Welland Valley 3-1, while Northampton Hotspur slumped to a 5-2 home defeat to Yusen Logistics.

AFC Hackleton moved into the second round of the NTFA MDH Teamwear Trophy with a 3-1 win against MDS Rangers, secured by goals from Porter (2) and Malkin.

FC Victoria thrashed Real Roochers 12-1 with Richard Tweed’s goal all the Roochers had to celebrate on this occasion.

Fox & Hounds’ match against AFC Crown went down to the wire before ending with a victory for Crown.

The score after extra time was 4-4 and AFC Crown went on to win 5-4 on penalties.

Lord Byron went down to Kingsthorpe Wanderers 3-0.

Another team going through to the second round is Kislingbury after they beat AFC Dee 5-2.

James Lewis rattled in a hat-trick and Luke McDonald snapped up a brace.

Another team which went out the completion was Royal All Stars, who went down 4-1 to Wootton Fields Wanderers.

Thorplands 81 beat Head Quarters 7-6 in the final tie of the round.

Earls Barton United booked their place in the next round of the NFA Sunday Vase with an 11-0 win over Albany Athletic.

Nomads of Barratts pushed Corby Sporting Club all the way to penalties after a 2-2 draw, before winning the tie 5-3 on penalties.

The final game in the competition saw Roade beat FC Nene 6-1.

In the premier division, Karlos Augustine, Shadrach Smith and Justin Ayre were on target for AFC Trinity, but they lost 5-3 to Melbourne Arms.

Sapphires went down 9-1 to Welland Valley Panthers, with James Brook scoring in vain. The victory puts the Panthers in seventh place in the table.

Wootton Club went eighth after beating Desborough Old Works 7-4.

In division one, Norteles beat Bat & Wickets 5-3 to go seventh in the division.

League leaders AC Squirrels beat second-bottom Swan & Helmet 3-1 to move five points clear at the top of the table.

West Haddon Albion are still looking for their first win in the division as they went down to a 3-1 defeat to second-placed Trinity Old Boys.

Grendon Sapphires went top of division two on goal difference after beating AFC Towcester 6-4.

Monks Park WMC Reserves beat Northampton Sapphires Reserves 3-0 to move to eighth place in the table.

Park Royal are still looking for their first win of the season after a narrow 4-3 loss to Parklands Phoenix.

Parklands’ goal scorers were Stuart Herman, Josh Harman, Dan Kamianos and Alex Godbolt.

In division three, FC Pioneer beat Northampton Alexandra 8-0 to move fourth in the division.

Oakley Diamonds went down to an 8-3 loss to Oakley despite goals from Denis Typhis, Patrick O’Brien and Daniel Ingram.

Bat & Wickets Reserves beat Pitsford Rangers Reserves 3-2 in a close game.

Real Roochers inflicted a second successive defeat on Jamee’ah, who finished the game with 10 men.

Sixfields Rangers moved back into second place after beating Spirng Park 3-0. Spring Park are now ninth in the table.

Swan & Helmet Reserves won 6-2 against rock-bottom AFC Hackleton Reserves.

The victory moves Swan & Helmet reserves into sixth place in the division.

FC Shelley Road put last week’s demise behind them as they recorded a 6-3 success over James King Blisworth A.

Blisworth raced into a 2-0 lead before Shelley fought back to claim all three points.

Paul Ekins helped himself to a well taken hat-trick to go with singles from Paul Jones, Daniel Jones and Shambu Vaid.

Liberty Stars and Falcons United Reserves fought out a 2-2 stalemate with Richie Collier netting both goals for Falcons, leaving Wiza Chunga and Thulane Khuza to hit the target for Liberty.

JLB moved within three points of pace-setters Delapre Old Boys on the back of a 6-3 victory over Thorplands Club 81. A double strike from Andre Cranston and a solo effort from Aaron Childs gave Thorplands hope but a four timer from ace marksman Ben Gerner and one apiece from Colin Mowbray and Nathan Munro helped JLB to a convincing win.

The John Henry Sports October Ball of the Month winners are JLB, who scored 24 goals in the month of October.

The league’s manager of the month for October is Delapre Old Boys’ David Broomes.

Andy Seaton was the matchwinner as James King Blisworth edged out premier division strugglers Kettering Nomads 2-1.

Seaton struck twice to make it seven league wins from 10 for fourth-placed Blisworth so far this season.

Max Gray’s goal for Milton couldn’t prevent them from a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Brixworth All Saints.

Moulton couldn’t make home advantage count after Welford Victoria eased to a 3-0 win thanks to strikes from Craig Cassidy (2) and Steven Conway.

Roade had a day to forget as they slumped to a 4-0 defeat to Weldon United. Weldon goals came from Damien Burton, Austen Milne, Ben Smith and Lewis Harman. League leaders Gretton maintained their winning ways with a 2-0 success over Earls Barton. They remain five points clear at the top.

In Duston Garage Division One, Daventry Drayton Grange remain top of the pile thanks to a 1-0 victory at Wollaston Victoria. Chris Trill netted the winner.

Grange still have games in hand over second, third and fourth place in the table.

Their nearest challengers Heyford secured a 2-0 win over Corby Pegasus thanks to a brace from Fraser Bennett.

Ashley Brown scored twice as Weedon overpowered Kettering Orchard Park in a 5-1 win. Ben Drinkwater, Tony Linnell and Elliott Matty were also on target.

Jamie Ellis and substitute Michael Ryan got the goals in Wootton St George’s 2-1 home win over Corby Ravens.

In Duston Garage Division Two, Northampton SPA were swept aside 4-0 by Finedon Volta.

Grange Park and Stanwick Rovers, both at the wrong end of the table, had to settle for a point apiece after a 2-2 draw. James Maloy and Dean Wilkinson were the men on the mark for Rangers.

Kislingbury’s game at Kettering Park Rangers also finished 2-2. Kisl’s goals came from Melvin Gartland and Richard Mosdell.

West Haddon Albion played host to bottom club Walgrave Amber and it was the home side that came out on top, winning 2-0. Tom Yorston and Elliot Grice were the goalscorers.

In Duston Garage Division Three, leaders Spartak lost their first league game of the season to Wellingborough Aztecs, who move up to second. Tom Whiting scored twice for Aztecs in a 3-1 win.

Brady Taylor Smith hit a hat-trick in Falcon United’s 10-1 thrashing of Inter Corby.

Duane Hall (2), Brett Greenhalf (2), Ashley Hunt, Jamie O’Keefe and Guy Chatfield were also on target.

Elsewhere, Northampton Obelisk won 4-2 at Corby United, while Mereway did just enough to claim all three points against Wellingborough Gleneagles, winning 2-1.

In the Duston Garage Reserve Premier Division Cup, Bugbrooke went out on penalties after a 4-4 draw with Wollaston Reserves.

In the Duston Garage Reserve Premier Division, Harpole lifted themselves off the bottom with a 3-2 win over Brixworth. Daniel Surridge (2) and Tony Faulkner netted for Harpole.

JK Blisworth stay top of the reserve premier thanks to a 4-1 win over Corby Grampian.

Lee Dickson and Calum Clark are both included in Saints’ matchday squad for the LV= Cup trip to Scarlets on Friday night.

The pair were released by England on Tuesday, meaning they miss out on the opening autumn international, against New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday.

But they could now play a part for their club in Wales, with Ben Foden and Alex Waller, who both trained with England last week, joining them on the replacements list.

Saints have made four changes to the team which beat Newcastle Falcons 37-23 in the LV= Cup opener at Franklin’s Gardens last Saturday.

James Wilson comes in at full-back after recovering from the head injury sustained against Ospreys two weeks ago, while Jamie Elliott is rested.

Mike Haywood and Gareth Denman are also given the weekend off, with Ross McMillan and Tom Mercey taking their place in the first 15.

The final alteration comes in the back row, where Ben Nutley replaces Teimana Harrison, who is on the bench.

Saints: Wilson; Packman, Stephenson, Waldouck, Collins; Hooley, Hodgson; E Waller, McMillan, Mercey; Woolford, C Day; Dowson (c), Nutley, Fisher.

Replacements: Williams, A Waller, Ma’afu, Clark, Harrison, L Dickson, Mallinder, Foden.

Scarlets: Evans; Williams, Hughes, Owen, Climo; S Shingler, Hardy; John, Myhill, Edwards; S Jones, Earle (c); McCusker, J Davies, Pitman.

Replacements: Elias, W Jones, Adriaanse, Day, Bennett, R Davies, Lewis, Warren.

Police have warned members of the public over prescription drugs that were accidentally left on a bus in Northampton.

A bag of prescription drugs was left on a bus travelling from Northampton town centre to Duston on Tuesday, November 4, at about 3pm.

The drugs, which were in a green Lloyds Pharmacy carrier bag, are potentially dangerous and police say they should not be ingested.

Anyone who finds them is asked to hand them in at their local police station.

Forget sitting behind boilies and bolt-rigs – the ‘old ways’ can still do the business on our river banks... especially in the hands of Ron Kyte!

When the local specimen-hunting patriarch starts talking quill floats (sometimes with ‘Beta-lights’ on top) many of today’s young tackle-tarts fall about laughing.

But Ron’s time-proven methods can out-fish many of them while they’re still changing batteries in their hi-tec bite alarms!

Recently he’s been stalking Northampton Nene’s Nene just below town, for a couple of hours at a time, catching chub to 6-5 with the latest, this week, going 5-8 and falling to a tiny piece of bread on a 14 to nylon under a crowquill on light line and light, soft-actioned rod.

“I’ve also had carp to 10-8 and roach over a pound,” he said, adding “It’s a lovely stretch and it doesn’t look as though anyone else has been fishing there.”

And he took his quills to the Hertfordshire Lea last week, just for a change, clocking up five chub to 3lb, four barbel to 8-8, four gudgeon and a good roach on bread, pearl barley and a ‘secret’ natural bait...in one outing!

WITH two rounds left Guru now top Castle Ashby’s AT league four points clear of joint runners-up ‘Ashby Youth and Maver MK, having won Sunday’s round 11 points clear of RAF.

RAF’s Andy Beazley had top weight, 68lb, followed by Guru’s Nigel Fawkes 53-12 and MK’s Ian Smith 47-4.

TOP Stanwick fish this week was Karl Finnley’s 30-6 PB common from Mallard.

GILDERS’ Pete Dixon’s two Trent sessions brought him nine barbel to 8lb using pellets super-glued to his hook.

MEADOWLANDS individual league opener: Paul Garner 117-12, Bas Byrd 101lb, Ian Coxon 70-8.

WHITE Hart Flore, Tofts: Dave Griffiths 103lb, John Berry 90lb, Vinny Atkinson 79lb.

CASTLE silverfish, Canons: Jeff Rice 18-2, Alan West 17-6, Graham West 12-10.

MOBBS Miller, Fenland drain: Stuart Cheetham 12-10 (seed roach), Ken Taylor 12-9, Stan Atter 7-12

FLORE & Brockhall, Muscott cut: Buster Matthews, 10-2, Ray Ayres 3-4, Jim Tanser 2-1.

NENE, Stoke long pound: Chris Howard 9-6, Les Wills 7-14, Brian Beard 3-8.

TOWCESTER, Shutlanger Tove: John Broughton 6-13, Les Goodridge 6lb, Tony Hirst 5-10.

SAD NEWS: John Woodhouse, long-serving Castle committee man, former treasurer and secretary, has passed away aged 84 after suddenly being taken ill.

The club’s Bob Spencer said: “He was a stalwart of the club and a really good man.”

Angling apart, the former soldier was passionate about history and archaeology, and a long-time trustee of Piddington Roman Villa Museum.

His family say all who knew him will be welcome at the funeral – 1.45pm, Northampton’s Church of The Holy Sepulchre, November 14.

ONs got their Midlands One East campaign back on track, scoring seven tries to win 47-15 at Paviors on Saturday.

Ten tries, two yellow cards and one red made for an interesting and entertaining game, with ONs coming out on top despite having to play the whole of the second half with 14 men.

A sin-binning as the first half drew to a close temporarily reduced the ONs to 14 but almost immediately on being restored to a full complement, a red card meant that they played 48 minutes of a 50-minute second half minus a player.

However, Paviors were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage as the visitors’ defence was outstanding and when the home side received a yellow card it was the ONs, with three converted tries in a 10-minute spell, who sealed the game.

ONs’ tries came from Fernely Simmonds (2), Jon Piggott, Alex Tollan, Lewis Barker, Jack Rose and Rory Seymour. Seymour converted five of the tries.

Dunstablians 16 Old Scouts 23

The home side were eagerly awaiting this fixture as their only previous wins had come against the other two of the top three and they were looking for a hat-trick against high-flying Scouts.

With a strong wind in their favour, Dunstablians stunned a lacklustre Scouts from the start and converted an early penalty.

Several penalties were awarded against the visitors and it was not long before Dunstablians increased their lead when a tap and go resulted in a seven-pointer.

A further penalty increased the hosts’ lead to 13 points mid way through the half before Scouts finally clambered out of their slumbers.

Progress was made into the Dunstablians’ 22 and Scouts were held up several times by a stout defence until on the half hour fly-half Adam Frost scored a trademark try which he converted himself.

The final 10 minutes of the half remained scoreless although both teams had opportunities.

Following some stern words at the break Scouts took the game to their hosts and eventually took the lead with an action replay by Frost.

Although Scouts were again heavily penalised they continued on the attack and used the wind to their advantage.

The pressure saw Scouts awarded three penalties within fifteen minutes, all of which were well converted by Frost from long range.

This gave Scouts a 10-point lead with barely five minutes remaining, although Dunstablians did manage to scrape a losing bonus point in the last minute when they were awarded a penalty on their first excursion of the half into Scouts’ 22.

There was time to restart and although a converted try would have given them a draw, Ds decided that one point was enough and booted the ball over the clubhouse.

Although it was Frost’s 23 points that won the game for Scouts it was an all-round team performance that dragged them back from the initial deficit.

BBOB 38 Mens Own 15

BBOB claimed a bonus-point win in their local derby against Mens Own at the Mill.

Although in the opening stages it looked like anything but a BB win, as Own went 8-0 ahead via try and penalty.

BB needed a slice of luck and they got it when a Jack Cullis kick struck the upright before going over to reduce the deficit to five.

Mens Own then got into a mix-up of their own making and it handed player-coach Ben Mann a clear run to the corner. Cullis, now making his own luck, slotted the difficult conversion to make it 10-8.

The Own pack, who were magnificent all afternoon, got into lineout position again and from fully 30 yards split and screwed the BB pack over the line. The conversion made it 15-10 to the visitors.

With half-time approaching, an Own prop was sin-binned for abusive language and the moment proved vital.

BB started the second half better and put a penalty in the corner but were snuffed out.

It then went from bad to worse for Mens Own who had a second player sent to the bin, putting them down to 13.

This put BB in firm command. One Own player returned from the bin, but almost immediately an Own back was also shown a yellow and they were back to 13.

BB took the scrum and shoved Own over, Olly James the scorer. Cullis converted and BB were back ahead at 17-15.

BB were getting the running game together and wing Sam Buswell used his pace to score in the corner, Cullis’s excellent conversion made it 24-15 and the bonus point was secured.

BB should have scored off the next play but the ball was not given and the chance lost. BB gave a debut to another of their youngsters in centre Rory Moore, this was now a full on derby and after the young Leicestershire referee lectured both captains, Mens Own player-coach Ben Briddon and BBOB prop Olly Cottle were binned.

The penalties were flying thick and fast and from one BB went wide and wing Dan George scored. Cullis converted to make it 31-15.

From virtually the last play, James took a quick tap and dived over. Cullis again did the honours and BB sealed a 38-15 win.

Trowbridge 6 Towcestrians 37

Tows produced an excellent second-half performance to beat Trowbridge.

Trailing 6-0 through two penalties, Tows sprang into action and made it 6-5 when centre David Williams crashed over. Falvey’s attempted conversion hit the post.

Trowbridge began to make mistakes in the second half and Tows took full advantage, scoring tries through Matt Bodily, Joe Chambers, Craig Holton and Ben Roe. Falvey converted three of those and added two penalties for good measure.

Tows’ colts side lost 19-18 to ONs colts.

Heathens 54 Old Scouts IIIs 16

Seven unanswered second-half tries, all converted by Ash Brown, saw Heathens claim a 54-16 victory against Old Scouts IIIs.

Heathens’ tries came from Brown, James Wayman, Marty Campbell (2), Josh Wells, Derren Tew (2) and Jake Doyle.

This Saturday The Romany-based Heathens are in merit table action again when they return to their Racecourse home to entertain Northampton Casuals IIs(2.15pm ko).

Vipers 16 Casuals 10

Casuals dropped to third in Midlands Three East (South) after losing 16-10 at Vipers. The visitors got off to a good start and went 5-0 ahead through a try from new centre Tom Pallant. Poor tackling led to Vipers scoring out wide to make it 5-5 before half-time.

The opening 15 minutes of the second half belonged to Casuals and it rewarded them with their second try from James Franklin.

Vipers fought their way back into a scrappy game and the pressure paid off. A try made it 10-10 and they sealed the win with two successful penalties.

Long Buckby 13 Oundle 30

Oundle inflicted revenge on Long Buckby as the league leaders secured a comfortable win.

Buckby’ s only try of the day came from Jake Toseland. Nick Denman kicked two penalties and a conversion.

Memories of pivotal points gone by are bound to flash back into the brain when tennis has been a focal point of your life and Northants’ men’s skipper Mark Taylor is no exception to this phenomenon.

Almost 20 years spent as the figurehead of the county scene means Taylor has a stash of epic on court battles locked away among in his mental cupboard and this month’s national Winter Indoor Singles tournament has helped to bring another one of them back to the fore.

Taylor will take the Northants squad to Hull to play between November 28-30 but while the venue is a fresh and interesting one in recent times, of more significance is the fact the county will be playing as high as Group Four.

This hasn’t happened for a while, and Taylor is realistic enough the challenge will be ‘tough’ even though the county has been promoted for the last two years in this competition.

Turn the clock back to the heady days around the Millennium, a period when Northants actually performed in Group One for one summer in 2001, and Taylor can recall a similar, if not quite so spectacular level, of winter performance progress.

He said: “I remember that we managed to get to Group Three, playing in High Wycombe and having a point there to win promotion into Group Two. I also know Paul Robinson and Alex Halsey were playing a doubles match together when we had the match point... and then someone like Nick Gould made a winning volley at the net for Avon to save it before they went on to win.

“These are the sort of things you tend to remember over the years... how sad is that?”

Those were the heady days when former county stalwart James Smith was in the fold before his coaching switch to Surrey and while the current Northants team can boost some talented performers, the majority will be unavailable for the hike up to Humberside in three weeks time.

Jack Haworth and Shakeel Manji are away at university in the USA while summer revelation and Oxford University student Peter Whight is abroad. Add to that the fact Alex Ward’s county commitments likely to be dogged by injury and there is a stark sense of reality looming about the challenge, especially when you throw into the mix the usual ‘Northamptonshire small county’ theory.

Yet Taylor is a glass half-full man whose ability to run teams has often been dependent on the art of pulling rabbits out of the hat and he says: “It looks like we will have to play 16-year-old Joe Tyler at the top of the rankings but down the order we will have Jordan Parker, Charlie Swallow, Andy Guy and Nikki Rae so it looks as though have a bit of strength in depth there.

“Lloyd Read is at university at Birmingham and hopefully playing a bit and it is also interesting that my old pal ‘Toots’ (John Hollis) will be back from the USA although he is not likely to be considered for this. It does mean though, that we might have one or two options.”

Marc Richards has returned to first-team training with the Cobblers this week and could be included in the squad for Saturday’s FA Cup first-round game against Rochdale.

Richards has recovered from a hamstring injury suffered a month ago, while winger Chris Hackett is also likely to be available after shaking off a back problem.

Lewis Hornby (tendonitis), Ian Morris (knee), Evan Horwood (tendonitis) and Zander Diamond (ankle) are out.

Manager Chris Wilder is pleased to have Richards and Hackett back in his squad as they are senior players who bring a good degree of experience to the team.

“To get those boys back on the training ground and around the dressing room is very important,” he said.

“If you go through our squad list there’s only four or five of them that haven’t been injured so we’ve been without a big bulk.”

Rochdale have no new injury concerns for the game.

A man was assaulted by a gang as he delivered leaflets in Northampton.

The 22-year-old was delivering the leaflets in Greatmeadow, Rectory Farm, at about 12.30pm yesterday when he was approached by four men who were walking three small dogs, which bit him.

The four men then shouted racial abuse at the victim and began assaulting him.

After sustaining bruising and cuts to his face, the victim managed to run away.

All four men , aged between 18 to 40 and between 5ft 2in and 5ft 6in tall. One wore a green tee-shirt, another a grey jacket and another a jacket of unknown colour.

Police would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this crime or who may have any information regarding it.

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Northants County’s Matt Myers retained his NGU Boys Matchplay title with some high quality golf in the semi-finals and final at Wellingborough.

After storming into an early lead against Charlie Salter in the last four, Myers had to withstand an excellent fightback from his fellow County member to triumph on the first extra hole.

Myers was once again never behind in the final against Sam Henfrey as he made the most of some bad luck from his County colleague on the back nine to grab a 3&2 victory.

After losing to Henfrey in the morning semi-finals, Brampton Heath’s Ben Jones found his form to secure third prize as he defeated Salter with five holes to spare.

Northants Golf Partnership Order of Merit Grand Final

Tom Forster (Oundle) and Ellie Darnell (Wellingborough) produced the standout performances in the NGP Order of Merit Grand Final as they grabbed the main prizes at Northants County.

With the heavy rain making scoring increasingly more difficult, Forster compiled a battling round of 73 to secure the boys gross honours by two from Jason McGuiness (Kingsthorpe).

A further shot off the pace were Luke Barney (Overstone) and home club member Fergus Robinson, who clinched the boys net award by a single stroke.

Darnell celebrated her recent call-up to the England under-16s training squad by winning the girls gross comp by seven shots from Whittlebury’s Raynor Edwards and County’s Hattie Billson, who collected the net prize.

Kingsthorpe

Two brothers enjoyed contrasting emotions in knockout finals as Jason Spence completed a double success while Kris Spence missed out in a couple of finals.

Jason won the Barry Hughes Scratch against Mark Bazeley on the 18th and clinched the Stuart Duncan Foursomes crown with Jake Croxford, who also combined with his dad to win the Autumn Fourball title.

Kris Spence and his partner Jason McGuinness were beaten on that occasion, while the older Spence sibling also crashed to a play-off defeat to Kev Purkiss in the Singles Jubilee Handicap Final.

Cold Ashby

A back nine of 21 points proved decisive for David Tinston in the Charity Shield as he beat Andrew Aveyard on countback with 39.

The six-handicapper carded three birdies on the inward stretch as he finished one clear of Mark North and Tim Hackett, who took third and fourth respectively.

Overstone Park

Paul King overcame a poor start to his round in the November Medal as the 28-handicapper went on to shoot a magnificent round of net 67.

Peter O’Dell shot the same score to clinch the top division by three strokes from Jay Wiggins and Lewis Hill, while Mark Roberts finished two clear in the middle section, thanks to a net 71.

Staverton

Paul Farenden enjoyed a three stroke victory in the Veterans October Medal after the 13-handicapper compiled a winning round of net 67.

Christopher Pendlebury finished runner-up by one from Charles Smedley, Paul Lee, Ossie Williams and John Shakespeare.

Collingtree

Kevin Marriott carded eight net birdies on his way to an excellent winning tally of 43 points in the eighth round of the Colonial. Four points adrift in the runners-up position was Jensen Parfitt.

Trevor Twelftree’s third place was enough to clinch the Order of Merit as he finished a single point ahead of Percy Williams, with Brendon Moss dropping back into third.

Whittlebury

Rob Morgan saw a stroke come off his 18 handicap after winning the opening round of the Winter Trophy.

A tally of 40 points clinched top spot for Morgan in the 9 O’Clock Club Comp by one from Ray Swann, with Malcolm Burgess (37) in third spot.

Northants County

David Thomas was successful in the October Midweek Stableford as a score of 39 points lifted him one clear of the field. Stan Hall was runner-up to Thomas in the top division, while Marcus Constantinedes carded the same score to clinch the honours in the high-handicap category.

Wootton Road Runners enjoyed several high-placed finishes at Croyland Park on Sunday as the new cross-country season got underway in Wellingborough.

Mike Aldridge again showed his dominance over this distance, clocking up a comfortable win, ahead of Matt Almond in third.

Richard Lack’s season began well with a 21st-placed finish and there was a welcome return to form for James Armstrong in 33rd position.

Bill Davidson further underlined his progress over the past year as his impressive 44th place saw him score for the team for the first time.

Tim Thurlow (46th) and Graham Hollowell (51st) were also on the scoresheet as Wootton’s men secured second place overall behind a high-flying Ampthill & Flitwick team.

With 38 runners braving the water jumps and muddy conditions of arguably the season’s toughest course, Wootton’s Mike Carrea started the season as he finished the last with an excellent 74th place.

New runner Adam Pilsbury, who only joined the club in the summer, demonstrated his promise in 77th place, while David Chandler in 94th also came home within the top 100.

John Ferris (109th), Roux Oldfield, (113th) and Graham Tee in (117th) will also be pleased with their performances in the first race of the campaign.

For the ladies, the ever-consistent Julie Dixon anchored the team home in sixth place followed by Niamh Morrin in ninth. Jenni Kirby completed the scoring in 15th on her return to the club, putting the women’s team third overall.

Deana Loveridge, in imperious form after her recent step up to group three, finished in an excellent 40th place ahead of Joanne James in 43rd and Julia Wetherill in 52nd place.

A number of runners were making their cross-country debut for the club with Angela Pye finishing in 95th place and Francisco Ortiz with a 178th-place finish.

Wootton will play host to the next round of the series at West Hunsbury Country Park this Sunday.

Two weeks ago, Thunder lost a National Shield game to an Oxford side who had the 7ft 4in Priest Lauderdale in their line-up.

But on this occasion, the Northants players put in their best display of the season to beat Oxford City Hoops 116-69.

In the 47-point win, eight Thunder players contributed to the final total, led by Dan Turiccki and Johnny Yates with 20 points apiece, while Devon Adams, Linas Bajorunas, Barrett and Curtis Hadley all scored in double figures.

Sheffield Saints 78 Northants Thunder 80

The Northants junior men travelled to Sheffield having been beaten by them by 10 points on the opening day of the season.

Northants were to gain some revenge for that loss.

In the narrow win the Thunder scoring was led by Ollie Thomas with 22 points, 18 of which came in the second half. He was well supported by Josh Round and Calvey, who scored 19 and 12 points respectively.

Northants Thunder 100 Worcester Wolves 32

Thunder were able to restrict their opponents to single figures in each of the three remaining quarters as they ran out comfortable winners with Round leading the scoring with 40 points.

All 10 Thunder players hit double-figure totals, while Ayomide Oluyede and David Nieva also made some spectacular lay-ups.

Northants Lightning 69 Team Birmingham 56

The Northants under 16 girls recorded a 13-point win over Team Birmingham in a game which saw the west midlanders mount a spirited fourth-quarter revival.

In the battling win, Round top scored for her team with 33 points, with good support coming from rookie Holly Winterburn with 13, while Stewart contributed 10 points before picking up her injury.

North Herts Knights 42 Northants Thunder 100

Despite the best efforts of both the M1 and North Herts, the Northants under 15 boys remain unbeaten after a routine win over Knights.

Northants Lightning 94 Leicester Warriors 46

Holly Winterburn piled in 36 points while Lucy Amena, Bahira Barakat and Odera Onwunechilli all made significant contributions.

Northants Thunder 40 Mansfield Giants 114

Connor White and Ashley Kitchen scored 14 and 12 points respectively for Thunder in this defeat.