Northamptonshire have secured the Amy Rose Bowl for the first time after defeating Somerset in this afternoon’s final at Victoria Park, Royal Leamington Spa.

It is Northamptonshire’s first appearance in the final of the competition, which started in 2000, reaching that stage with victories over Lincolnshire Lionesses and a remarkable extra end defeat of Devon Belles.

In the final, Northamptonshire dominated from the start against rinks skipped by the experienced Laura Holden and Stef Branfield, securing a comprehensive 34-15 victory.

Northamptonshire reached the final after a remarkable extra end victory over Devon Belles.

Senior international skip Wigfield played a perfect 15th end when Northants required two shots for victory, before her international teammate Sophie Tolchard turned the second shot away with the final bowl to secure an extra end.

On the extra end, Wigfield drew the shot to an off-centred jack near to the ditch, before Tolchard also showed her class to successfully ditch the jack to lie shot.

Wigfield replied in turn by drawing to within 18 inches of the ditch to secure a place in the final.

Somerset Scrumpies reached the final after a convincing defeat of Essex Lionesses in the last four.

Bowls England would like to thank the Friends of English Bowling and Jessie Clark for their generous support of this event.

Results:
Quarter-Finals:
Devon Belles bt Huntingdonshire Angels 28-20
Rink Scores (Devon Belles skips first): N Chestney bt S Purell 14-8; S Tolchard bt C Brett 14-12.

Northants Roses bt Lincolnshire Lionesses 34-24;
Rink Scores (Northants Roses skips first): K Smith bt A Dunham 24-12; R Wigfield lost to C Tomlin 10-12

Somerset Scrumpies bt Maids of Kent 37-17;
Rink Scores (Somerset Scrumpies skips first): S Branfield bt R Banks 20-3; L Holden bt H Larkin 17-14.

Essex Lionesses bt Leicestershire Foxes 37-16;
Rink Scores (Essex Lionesses skips first): S Madgewick bt J Winch 23-6; E Pitts bt N Pimprasan 14-10.

Semi-Finals:
Northants Roses bt Devon Belles 34-33
Rink Scores (Northants Roses skips first): R Wigfield beat S Tolchard 21-14; K Smith lost to N Chestney 13-19

Somerset Scrumpies bt Essex Lionesses 43-13
Rink Scores (Somerset Scrumpies skips first): S Branfield bt E Pitts 21-9; L Holden bt S Madgewick 22-4.

Final:
Northants Roses bt Somerset Scrumpies 34-15;
Rink Scores (Northants Roses skips first): R Wigfield beat S Branfield 14-6; K Smith bt L Holden 20-9

Official photographs can be viewed and purchased at: https://www.bobsaundersphotography.co.uk/bowls-events