Northants B are still searching for first win

Although winning on three of the four rinks against North Cambs at Peterborough & District on Sunday, Northants B are still looking for that elusive first win of the season in the Derbyshire Trophy, the English Bowling Federation’s inter-county championship.

They ended up with a frustrating six shots defeat – 8591 – a 26-shot defeat for the rink of Richard Allam, John Holroyd and Jon Earl proving decisive.

The rink of Ray Keating, Mick Greaves and Mick Linnell did their best on an adjoining rink to cancel out that margin, winning in the end by 16 shots – 29-13 – but the winning margins for the rinks of Helen Holroyd, Cliff Watson and Peter Brown (23-20) and Brian Bassam, Dick Noble and Graham Agger (23-22) were slender ones and not enough to bridge the gap.

They will complete their five-match programme at home to Hunts on February 17, the same day that the A team face a crucial home match against defending champions Lincs at Stamford.

RESULT

Northants B 85 (6), North Cambs 91 (8) – (Northants rinks only):

Ray Keating, Mick Greaves, Mick Linnell won 29-13; Richard Allam, John Holroyd, Jon Earl lost 10-36; Helen Holroyd, Cliff Watson, Peter Brown won 23-20; Brian Bassam, Dick Noble, Graham Agger won 23-22.

HANNAH OVERTON

The bowls world, both locally and wider afield, are mourning the devastating loss of talented Parkway bowler Hannah Overton at the age of just 28.

The England under 25 international lost her brave fivemonth battle with leukemia two days before Christmas.

The funeral service takes place tomorrow at the Whittlesey Christian Church in Broad Street, and after a private burial, a wake will be held at the Parkway club.

Hannah played in four junior international series for England, and was in the Hunts team that won the Walker Cup at Leamington in 2012.

She was runner-up in the national pairs with Michelle Coleman in 2011 and filled that same position in the under 25 singles two years later. She was also twice a winner of the English Women’s Bowling Federation’s under 25 singles at Skegness.

CAMBS LEAGUE

Peterborough’s hopes of making up lost ground in the Cambs Senior League title race received a setback when they were beaten 57-72 away to current leaders St Neots A, but they did share the rink honours at two apiece following wins for Ray Keating and Rod Maplethorpe.

Whittlesey achieved only their third win of the season when they defeated visiting St Neots B 77-52 to collect six of the ten points on offer.