The Wellingborough mixed fours team have reached the national finals after their win at the Inter Area stage of the national fours competition.
The team of Tina Broderick, Margaret Johnson, Paul Broderick and Jamie Walker beat St Neots & District 21-16 in a high quality encounter at the neutral venue of Northampton & District IBC.
In a close match, the Wellingborough quartet were always in front by a couple of shots or so until the 17th end of 21.
On that one, their opponents picked up a count oftwo shots to go in front by one and then collected another one on the 18th to keep their noses in front with three ends to play.
A pick-up of three shots by the County four on the 19th end put them back in front by one.
On the 20th end, however, with Paul Broderick having bowled two terrific bowls, and the two Wellingborough ladies having got their bowls in the vicinity too, the St Neots’ skip, in trying to dislodge the head in his favour, sent a firm last bowl down.
When the bowls had settled he found that he’d taken out his own nearest bowls and he dropped a huge count of five shots to give Walker’s rink a good cushion in playing the last end.
The County players put bowls around the jack on that last end and the St Neots’ No. 3 ‘killed it’ to start again in their impossible quest.
And, with a repeat from his front end players who put bowls around the jack, all Walker had to do was put blockers in to prevent St Neots from killing the end. And, although they held one shot, the St Neots’ rink was beaten by five shots.
The Wellingborough rink now plays in the National Finals on Friday, February 15 again at Northampton & District IBC when their opponents will be from either Croydon IBC or Egham IBC.
Brodericks beaten in mixed pairs final
Tina and Paul Broderick were also in action in the area final of the mixed pairs but eventually lost out 19-18 to the Northampton & District duo of Marilyn Oram and Chris Bland at Desborough.
A fine match saw the two teams level at 18-18 but the Northampton duo managed to get the all-important final shot.
Oram and Bland now meet Martin Cooper & partner (West Denton IBC, Newcastle) at the National Finals on Tuesday, February 12 and they will have home advantage with the game being played at Northampton & District IBC.
County ladies ready to take on Bedford
NORTHANTS Ladies play their next Midland Counties League match on Saturday, January 19.
They make the short trip to Bedford Borough for the clash with Bedfordshire.
The game starts at 12.30pm.
Rink one: Pat Starsmore, Joan Bryan (both Kettering Lodge), Valerie Blackwell (Rushden Town), Chris Cooper (Wellingborough). Rink two: Vicki Rushall, Rhonda Hollan, Brenda Bishop (all Daventry), Wilma Walker (Desborough). Rink three: Julie Spreadbury, Sylvia Plant (both Daventry), Eleanor Winters (Desborough), Pam Lewis (Rushden Town). Rink four: Marilyn Oram, Joyce Porter (both Northampton), Barbara Hutt (Daventry), Sue Lomas (Desborough). Rink five: Kay Green, Susan Fincham, Jan Hunt (all Wellingborough), Jeannie Flippance (Desborough). Rink six: Joyce George (Wellingborough), Joyce Burns, Joyce Porter (all Northampton), Joan Watts (Daventry). Reserves: Tracey Cattell (Rushden Town), Audrey Gardener (Kingsthorpe).
The County Men’s next match is a friendly against Northants & Hunts Masonic BA.
That is being held at Kettering Lodge on Wednesday from 2pm.
Rink one: John Smith (Kettering Lodge), Bob Brown (Kingsthorpe), Tony Warren (Northampton & District), Richard Somerton (Brackley). Rink two: Tom Kavanagh (Kettering Lodge), Don Scott (Brackley), Dave Thurlow (Wellingborough), Bob Tingle (Desborough).
Rink three: Jim Diver, Bob Sullivan (both Desborough), Gordon Morris (Northampton & District), Ted Guiver (Wellingborough). Rink four: Stuart Lowe (Brackley), Trevor Tilley (Wellingborough), Brian Sherwood (Rushden), Brian Diver (Desborough). Reserves: Bill Craig, Keith Howlett (all Desborough), Dave Garland (Kingsthorpe), Doug Hatton (Brackley).
Young bowlers’ big chance to show skills
The Northants event in the English Bowls Youth Development Scheme (EBYDS) Schools of Excellence is being held on Saturday, January 19.
It is organised under the auspices of the EBYDS by the Northamptonshire Bowls Youth Development Scheme and will be held at Northampton & District IBC from 9.15am.
The event is for bowlers of both sexes under the age of 18, divided into two age groups and, in addition to short matches in a round robin system, there are a number of exercises which the participants have to undertake. The best players are then put forward by the County for further competition at the regional event later in the year.
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