Northants still managed to collect a win over Lincolnshire despite missing a number of regular performers.
Jamie Walker, Connor Cinato, Callum Height, and Martin Cinato were all missing due to the England international junior trial taking place which gave several younger players their chance, including Sam Gamble of Desborough Town BC, Alistair Melville of Corby Forest BC and Will Walker of West End BC.
The County won by seven shots, not a massive win, but one that the players were thankful for as their opponents pulled back dramatically from an apparent hopeless cause at the halfway stage when they were 31 shots adrift.
Despite the narrowness of the win the County picked up a very valuable 18 points.
RINK SCORES: Northamptonshire 123 (18 pts) Lincolnshire 116 shots (4pts) (Lincolnshire skips only) Rink one: Tony O’Leary/Sam Gamble/Phil Reeve/Jonathan Brown 25 shots – Colin Barks 15 shots. Rink two: Dave Love/Daniel Height/Chris Bland/Darren Childs 21 shots – A Bird 19 shots. Rink three: Adam Brown/Alistair Melville/Roger Tansley/John Haines 17 shots – S Dunham 20 shots. Rink four: Matt Wordingham/Mick Malins/John Freeman/Jim McKee 21 shots – M Smith 14 shots. Rink five: Jason Bryan/Will Walker/ Martin Walker/Alan Ashby 25 shots – I Walker 23 shots. Rink six: Neil Rolfe/Martin Gearey/Dave Flippance/Vernon Gearey 14 shots – I Clark 25 shots.
County name strong team for Middleton Cup clash
NORTHANTS men have named their squad for the prestigious Inter County Men’s competition, the Middleton Cup against Bedfordshire on Saturday at Maulden BC.
Rink one: Rob White (Northampton Express) Jonathan Brown (Abington) Roger Tansley (Kingsthorpe) Paul Broderick (Wellingborough).Rink two: Tony O’Leary, Abington) Connor Cinato, Kettering Midland Band) Phil Exley, Desborough Town) Neil Corbyn (Wellingborough). Rink three: Neil Rolfe (Kingsthorpe) Martin Gearey (Roade) John Haines (Desborough Town) Vernon Gearey (Kingsthorpe). Rink four: Callum Height (Thrapston) Richard Lemon (Northampton Express) Alan Ashby (Northampton West End) Jamie Walker (Northampton West End). Rink five: Jason Bryan (Kingsthorpe) Matt Wordingham (Higham Ferrers Town) Neil McKee (Kingsthorpe) Jim McKee (Kingsthorpe). Rink six: Dave Love (Wellingborough) Matt Pownall (Thrapston) Andrew Manton (Kingsthorpe) Darren Childs (Kingsthorpe). Travelling reserves: Chris Bland (Northampton Express) Martin Cinato (Kettering Midland Band) Dave Flippance (Desborough Town) Jason Hall (Desborough Town) Peter Ward (Desborough Town).
Four players set for Johns Trophy debut
NORTHANTS ladies have named their team to take on Herfordshire in the Johns Trophy at Abington BC on Saturday.
Two players will receive their Johns Trophy flash after playing their third match – Chloe Wordingham and Sue Graham-Hole.
Four others will be playing in their first Johns match: Heather Lack, Anita Petrucci, Emma Gray, and Sandra Mawson.
Northants team – Rink one: Alison Dring (Swanspool), Wilma Walker (Corby Forest), Yvonne McKee (Kingsthorpe), Brenda Bishop, (Daventry Town). Rink two: Pat Starsmore, Kettering Lodge/Pat Bodily, Northampton Whyte Melville/Jill Welch, Daventry Town/Jan Bradley, Daventry Town. Rink three: Margaret Watts (Desborough Town) Chris Cooper (Burton Latimer Town) Pam Lewis (Rushden Town) Audrey Height (Kettering Lodge). Rink four: Rebecca Wigfield (Desborough Town), Celia Morris (Kingsthorpe), Hilary Sharpe (Kingsthorpe), Sharon Tansley (Kingsthorpe)Rink five: Chloe Wordingham (Higham Ferrers), Heather Lack (Burton Latimer Town), Emma Gray (Burton Latimer Town), Val Betts (Higham Ferrers Town). Rink six: Maggie Edwards (Kingsthorpe), Sandra Mawson (Northampton Whyte Melville), Sue Graham-Hole (St Crispin), /Anita Petrucci, Abington. Travelling reserves: Tricia Basford, Geddington & Newton/Di Brumwell, Kingsthorpe.