RIC IS LEAMINGTON BOUND

Oakley's Ric Newson travelled this morning to Banister Park, Southampton, for the County quarter finals of the Singles needing to win two matches to reach the County Final and be certain of being one of Hampshire's representatives at this year's National championships in Leamington. His first game was against Robbie Bines, of Eastleigh Rail, a semi finalist last year, and Ric made a good start taking a 5-1 lead before dropping a four. It was then nip and tuck for over an hour with the lead regularly changing hands and never more than a couple of shots separating the players until Ric hit a purple patch, leading 18-14 after 23 ends of play. Robbie then clawed back two singles but a score of three saw Ric into the semi final. The afternoon semi was a tough ask. Up against the reigning champion Chris Daniels of Boscombe Cliff, Ric just about held his own over the first 4 ends but by 9 ends Chris had secured a 12-4 lead and looked to be heading for victory. Ric, however, hung in and from being 9-14 down after 14 ends he picked up a three, two singles and a four to go into the lead for the first time at 18-14. Next end Ric lay three shots for game but, showing his champion's credentials, Chris gained the shot with a running bowl and immediately scored a three to tie the match at 18-18. It was now anyone's game and on what was the final end Ric found himself, after a running bowl from Chris had missed, holding two shots with the last bowl in his hand. He made no mistake, added the third shot and clinched a memorable 21-18 victory. Ric will now play at Leamington on the 29th August and on 7th September will compete against Alan Geary of Boscombe Cliff for the County Singles title.