Wellingborough IBC’s Darren Lyman and Paul Broderick’s quest for the national pairs title ended at the quarter-final stage.
In Nottingham, the pair saw off the challenge of Egham’s Jake Marlow and Steve Tuhoy in the first round and Hartlepool’s Glenn Skipp and Vinnie O’Neill in the second before coming unstuck against the Dorchester duo of James Lockwood and Nick Voss.
In the last eight tie, the county pair started poorly and were quickly 6-0 down but they fought back and after nine ends they trailed 7-4.
The deficit had been reduced to one shot after a dozen ends but Lockwood and Voss pulled ahead and although Lyman and Broderick won the last three ends, they had to accept defeat by a 17-14 margin.
Earlier in the competition, the Wellingborough men won their first round encounter 19-16 courtesy of a strong start and finish.
They led 9-2 after five ends and although their advantage was cut to 15-14 three-quarters of the way through the tie, they dug deep in the final stages to take victory.
In the second round, a tight affair saw the county men get their noses in front early on and although their opponenets staged a string comeback, they were able to hang on to claim a 16-13 win.
Also in national finals action were the Desborough trio of Jim Diver, Matt Pownall and John Haines in the triples competition.
They were up against the Egham threesome of Barry Jenkins, Ian Jenkins and Steve Tuhoy in the first round and after five ends the Surrey men held a 5-2 advantage.
This became 12-7 after 10 ends and the five-shot difference was maintained 15 ends through the contest.
With three ends remaining it was always going to be a tough ask and although they pulled a couple of shots back, they were beaten by a 17-14 scoreline.
COUNTY COMPETITONS -Triples League: Wellingborough IBC 71 Daventry 60. Rink scores (Daventry skips only) At Wellingborough, Triple one: Terry Knowles/Peter Boulden/Wayne Gregory 15 Terry Fuller 23. Triple two: Peter McDowell/Curtis Johnson/Walter Winsor 27 John Sach 15. At Daventry, Triple three: Alan Jones/Bob Fuller/Graham Maddams 13 Mark Courtney 10. Triple four: Dave Love/Steve Toone/Bryan Williams 16 Adge Smith 12. Rushden Town IBC beat Brackley.
Youngsters bid to win place in national finals
Eleven young bowlers from the county will take part in the Regional Finals of the English Bowls Development Scheme Schools of Excellence at Melton & District IBC on Sunday.
The scheme is organised for young bowlers of both gender, under the age of 18 years, and is split into two age categories, a junior section for under-15 years, and a senior section for 15-18 years.
Junior Section: Conor Bryan, Lydia Howley, Maisie Lee (all Northampton & District IBC), Kyle Buckley, Adam Pitfield (both RushdenRushden Town IBC), Megan Rolfe (Kingsthorpe IBC).
Senior Section: Liam Baxter (Northampton & District IBC), Matthew Cattell, John Cooper (both) Rushden Town IBC), Connor Cinato, Cameron Knox (both Desborough IBC).
The winners will play in the National Finals which will be held at the same venue later in the year.
Easy win for VPs
Northants Vice President’s concluded their indoor programme with a comfortbale 119-90 victory over their Wellingborough counterparts.