OAKLEY YOUNGSTERS SHINE AT COUNTY FINALS

At Banister Park, for the first ever unified Finals Day, it was another challenging morning for our juniors Nicole Rogers and Heather Statham as they looked to win County titles in the Junior Singles and the Two Wood Singles. Nicole, as the County Champion of Champions, started as hot favourite to retain the Junior title but her opponent Lauren Kerr from Kings Park was clearly determined that she was not going to be regarded as just being there to make up the numbers. In a high quality game, probably the best of the day's finals, Lauren pushed Nicole all the way and at 10-9 the game could have gone either way. Nicole eventually emerged triumphant by 21-11 but the score did not reflect the closeness of a game in which both players produced some superb bowls. Starting an hour later than Nicole, Heather also found herself with an opponent from Kings Park - Laura Kitcher. As she did in the quarter and semi finals, Heather stormed out of the blocks and she was soon 9-1 ahead. This is a huge lead in a 2 wood, 21 end game and try as she did Laura was unable to make any significant inroads into the lead with Heather running out the winner by 16-7 after just 17 ends.

The Club's congratulations go to both players who were both delighted their matches took place in the morning and before heavy rain made the green so slippery and dangerous that play was abandoned for the day. Between them, this season, they have been a credit to the Club and brought back to Oakley, the Champion of Champions, the Two Wood, the Junior and the Junior Pairs Bowls Hampshire titles. Well done