After a strong start in our opening game, we faced a different challenge against West Midlands Bears.
The first challenge for our captain was selecting the team. With six players unavailable from the first game and one squad player also unavailable, it was not only a challenge to field a team but also to achieve the right balance. That being said, a team was assembled and we marched on.
Session 1 – Singles and Pairs
Singles 1
Edward Sawbridge got off to a strong start before being pegged back, which led to a nail-biting finish. However, Ed held firm and secured the win, 19 shots to 12.
Singles 2
Chris Terry also got off to a strong start before his opponent found the mat and didn’t look back, taking the win 20 shots to 9.
Pairs 1
David Ekins and Andrew Smith took control from the start and held firm throughout the game, taking a commanding 23-5 victory.
Pairs 2
John Fox and Chris Weston again made a fast start. Their opponents mounted a fightback midway through the game, reducing the deficit to just three shots. Holding strong, they secured the win 18 shots to 8.
A very strong opening session saw Northamptonshire win three out of the four games.
Session 2 – Triples and Fours
Triples 1
Mandy James (making her county debut), Fred Pearson, and Paul D’Inverno got off to a steady start. Despite a very good fightback from West Midlands, they held on to take the win, 13 shots to 12.
Triples 2
Maureen D’Inverno, Wendy Kean, and Aaron Clare got off to a very even start before West Midlands edged ahead. With a spirited effort, they brought the game level, leading to four consecutive ends where neither side could gain an advantage. The game was level going into the final end, but Northamptonshire held their nerve and picked up the decisive shot to win 11-10.
Fours 1
Sue Gunter, David Bibey, Martin Watts, and Tim Gunter got off to a flying start, racing into a 12-0 lead. Maintaining that pressure throughout, they secured an 18-9 victory. It was a great win, with every member of the team contributing and bringing excellent energy to the rink.
Fours 2
Ian Dale, Janice Fox, Alan Lodge, and Margaret Jones also started strongly, taking a 6-0 lead before West Midlands fought back, winning five of the final seven ends. Northamptonshire held strong and secured a 9-6 win.
After two sessions, Northamptonshire had won seven of the eight games. With everything still to play for, we moved into Session 3 with the return of the singles and pairs.
Session 3 – Singles and Pairs
Singles 1
Edward Sawbridge played in a back-and-forth contest, with momentum swinging between both players before Ed took control with some well-timed shots to win 16-8.
Singles 2
Chris Terry struggled to get going against an opponent who consistently played excellent shots. Trying to keep the ends tight was all Chris could do on what proved to be a difficult mat, eventually losing 18-5.
Across the four singles games, Northamptonshire won two mats and scored 49 shots, while West Midlands won two mats and scored 58 shots, meaning West Midlands claimed the bonus points.
Pairs 1
David Ekins and Andrew Smith made a slow start before producing a remarkable fightback to take a one-shot lead into the final end. Unfortunately, a strong final end from West Midlands saw them edge the game 14-13.
Pairs 2
John Fox and Chris Weston once again established an early lead and never looked back, running out comfortable 20-7 winners.
At the conclusion of the pairs, Northamptonshire had won three of the four games and outscored West Midlands 64 shots to 34, securing the bonus points.
Session 4 – Triples and Fours
Triples 1
Mandy James, Fred Pearson, and Paul D’Inverno played in a tightly contested game that remained nip and tuck throughout. Despite a valiant effort, they narrowly lost 16-14.
Triples 2
Maureen D’Inverno, Wendy Kean, and Aaron Clare were involved in another close game but took a slim lead into the closing ends. Knowing a win was needed to secure the bonus points, they kept their composure and held on for a 12-8 victory.
At the end of the triples, Northamptonshire had won three of the four games and edged the shot count 50-46, securing another set of valuable bonus points.
Fours 1
Sue Gunter, David Bibey, Martin Watts, and Tim Gunter were unable to carry their momentum from the first game. They struggled to get going, and although they won a few ends, they were unable to score heavily enough to mount a comeback, losing 12-5.
Fours 2
Ian Dale, Janice Fox, Alan Lodge, and Margaret Jones produced a superb performance. They won six of the eleven ends, while on the five ends they lost, they only conceded a single shot each time. It was a great example of how to keep a game tight. The difference came on the ends they won, regularly picking up two, three, and four shots, helping them secure a convincing 17-5 victory.
At the conclusion of the fours, Northamptonshire had again won three of the four games, outscoring West Midlands 49 shots to 32 and securing the all-important bonus points.
Match Summary
Northamptonshire ultimately recorded an excellent 28-12 victory on points and 222-160 on shots.
Another strong team performance at a tricky venue means that, after two games, Northamptonshire sit top of the group with two games remaining.
A special mention goes to Janice Fox, who was named this week’s Most Valuable Player, helping her rink win both of their games. Congratulations, Janice, and well done to everyone who played. It was fantastic to see players supporting one another around the mats, cheering each other on and showing real togetherness and team spirit throughout the day. Come on you roses.
One very happy Team Manager,
Chris Terry