ASHLEY REACHES COUNTY QUARTER FINAL

This evening at Basingstoke Town, Oakley's Ashley Nethercliffe took on Old Basing's Matthew Rixson in the Northern Area Finals of the County Two Bowl Singles. Having lost, after a slow start, on the last end, at the same stage last year, Ashley was clearly trying to avoid a similar situation this year and he roared out of the blocks establishing a 6-0 lead by 5 ends. Matthew was not playing badly but Ashley was consistently nailing the jack with his first bowl and when he moved out to a 9-0 lead it was always going to be an uphill struggle for Matthew. He came back to 9-3 but by 14 ends Ashley was back in control at 13-4 and two ends later Matthew conceded the match. The second match was closer but eventually Cove's Leo May overcame Alton's Anthony LaFrenais to join Ashley at the County Quarter Finals to be played on Monday 11th July at Banister Park,

There were disappointingly very few spectators to watch some excellent bowling by all four players but well done to Ron Baxter, Oakley's most senior playing member, who came along to support his man. We wish Ashley good luck at Southampton. It is just a pity that the Last Eights on Monday clashes with the Club's match, against the Friends of English Bowling, thus ruling many of us out from going along to support Ashley.