Heartbreak for Hunts bowlers, heavy defeat for Northants men, big wins for Northants ladies.
There was heartbreak for Hunts in their bid to reach the knockout stage of the Bowls England Middleton Cup for the third time in four years.
They went down by just one shot (90-89) at home to Central section leaders Bucks whose 16 points took them well clear at the top and en route to the quarter-finals. Had the result been reversed, then Hunts would have only required a dozen or so points from their final match at home to Herts to top the group.
Scores: Hunts rinks only: Paul Dalliday, Craig Sutherland, John Earl, Simon Law lost 14-19; Matt Nickerson, James Harford, Joe Randall, Toby Furzeland lost 12-16; Brian Martin, Tom Fielding, Sam Brugnoli, Ean Morton won 19-13; Robbie Coleman, Matt Franklin, Barry Kitto, Scott Walton lost 10-17; Simon Leader, Joe Stevens, Peter Brown, Tristan Morton won 17-10; Alex Brugnoli, Tom Swannell, Mack May, Phil Exley won 17-15.
Northants ended their English Bowling Federation's Adams Trophy campaign with their heaviest defeat of the season - 199-145 at the hands of Lincs at Blackstones. Their other two defeats were by the slender margins of one shot and three shots so this defeat was out of character this season.
They picked up just five points courtesy of wins for the rinks of Kevin Vinter and Roger Martin and a draw for Adam Warrington's trio.
Scores: Northants rinks only: Luke Murray, Steven Shaw, Neil Wright lost 13-37; Wayne Morris, Michael Humphreys, Adam Warrington drew 26-26; Craig Campbell, D. Russell, Stephen Harris lost 20-34; Kevin Brown, Ally McNaughton, Mike Anderson lost 18-48; Roger Stevens, Adam Emery, Roger Martin won 36-32; Duncan Lee, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter won 32-22.
But Northants women claimed their first Donald Steward Trophy win of the season at the fourth attempt with a 116-96 victory away to North Cambs.
Although they only won on two of the five rinks, there were big wins for the rinks of Terri Handley, Shirley Suffling and Elaine Upton, who preserved their unbeaten record with a 39-10 success, and Ruth Swiffen, Penny Hart, and Myra Landsburgh, who won 33-13.
They end their county championship campaign at home to Suffolk next Wednesday.
Scores: Northants rinks only: Terri Handley, Shirley Suffling, Elaine Upton won 39-10; Sally Albany, Joan Collishaw, Chris Ryan lost 21-23; Linda Toms, Rita Downs, Tina Tinklin lost 10-32; Ruth Swiffen, Penny Hart, Myra Landsburgh won 33-13; Jan McDougall, Val Du'Kett, Julie O'Neill lost 13-28.
Parkway are set to face St Neots in the area final of the Bowls England Top Club competition after defeating Brampton 4-1.