Norfolk's county Federation bowlers opened their winter campaign in the EBF Derbyshire Trophy on Sunday with an excellent victory against Northamptonshire.

This game was vital as Northants had already beaten Lincolnshire and North Cambs and any result other than a good win would have made it impossible for Norfolk to go any further in the competition.

Three blocks were at home at Acle IBC and three blocks away at Stamford IBC. Games were two wood triples played over 25 ends.

Things didn't look at all promising after five ends as Northants led by 34 shots to 16 with two of the blocks at Stamford still to record a shot for Norfolk.

Things started to look at little better as the gap at ten ends was reduced to eight shots. By the 15th end the Norfolk bowlers had moved into a ten-shot lead, 87 shots to 77 and at the end of 20 ends the lead had been extended to 19 shots.

Northants managed to reduce the deficit slightly over the last five ends but Norfolk ran out winners by 138 shots to 122. In the process they picked up 20 of the available 22 points.

This was a superb effort and gave the team a good chance of going through to the national final. The next match on February 24 against Lincolnshire will be vital and a win would really put Norfolk in the driving seat. This game will be played at Acle IBC and Lincoln IBC starting at 1.30pm.

Rink scores from Sunday's game were: D Seabourne, T Dunton, I Wones 23-19; J Colcombe, S Elliott, G Tubby 29-23; M Elliott, J Fruin, J Dyball 31-12; P Winter, M Rowbottom, S Winter 25-23; A Sayer, M Riches, R Parker 21-14; T Elvin, N Blyth, B Sadler 9-31.

• It is an honour for any bowls club to say they have a county president as a member, but this year Martham Bowls Club have a double reason to celebrate.

For the men John Hudson is the president of the Norfolk County Bowls Association and for the ladies Jane Watson is president of the Norfolk County Women's Bowling Association.

• The City of Norwich League resumed after an unscheduled winter break for snow and ice. League Leaders RG Carter played at home Old Bonds and won 14-0 (P Johnson 10-6, N Willard 16-9, M Woods 19-4, T Brown 15-5). They then played County Council and won 11-3 (M Woods 22-4) and at home to Costessey it was a 13-1 win (T Brown won 24-6).

It was a mixed week for Jarrolds. They lost 14-0 away to Felthorpe (F Davey 14-7, M Harris 13-8, J Green 17-8, P Nash 17-6) and then played at home to Sprowston and won 12-2 (P Carter 22-5).

Sprowston recovered to beat Old Bonds 12-2 at home (J Poynter 16-4). Old Bonds' run of defeats continued away to Horsford as they lost 13-1 (D Downing won 18-4 for HBC) and at home to Thorpe Marriott as they lost 10-4 The result would have been different if G Clarke's triple had not won 26-4 for Marriott.

County Council won a close game at home to Deaf Sports. The result was in doubt until the last end but the Council edged home 10-4 and by four shots.