JOY AND DISAPPOINTMENT IN AREA FINALS

Tonight at Yateley, the Oakley rink of Ric Newson, Malcolm Grime, Spencer Kerley and Ted Brown took on the Basingstoke Town rink comprising Dave Goddard, Trevor Morgan, Neil Clarke and Richard Burgin in the Area Final of the County Fours Championship. With Town having had, this year, the better of the exchanges between the two clubs they probably started as favourites but in a close encounter it was Oakley that led 9-1 at 8 ends. The Town, however fought back to tie the scores at 9-9, only for Oakley to again move ahead to lead 13- 9. Again the Town fought back and with the scores tied at 14-14 at 18 ends it was anyone's game. A score of 2 on the 19th end saw the Town, for the first time, move into the lead only for Ted Brown to produce on the penultimate end two superb bowls to edge Oakley back into a one shot lead. The final end was a tense affair and, with the spectators on the edge of their seats, and with the skips to bowl Oakley held the one shot needed for victory. Richard Burgin came agonisingly close but Oakley held on to triumph in a game in which all 8 players produced some excellent play. Oakley will now play in the County Quarter Final at Southampton on Sunday 8th July against a star studded Boscombe Cliff side

Sadly at Whitchurch, the same evening, Heather Statham was unable to follow up her success last year in winning the County Two Wood Singles as she bowed out of the 4 Wood Singles, losing to 4 times finalist Margaret Holden. Still, in only her third season outdoors she should be proud of reaching another Area Final and her futiure looks bright. Also playing for a place at Soutampton was Camilla Kingshott, runner up in last year's Oakley Singles but now representing Basingstoke Town. She too was unsuccessful with Karen Cranham of Cove going forward to Southampton.