THE LEAST SAID THE BETTER

After a very successful season which has seen Ric Newson reach the finals of the Basingstoke and District and the Bowls Hampshire Men's Singles, today he came down to earth with a bump. Representing Hampshire in the National Singles at Royal Leamington Spa he took on current England International David Forster of Cumbria and could not have made a worse start, dropping 4 shots on the first end. E green is always difficult and neither player found the rink easy, with bowls slowing quickly after heavy overnight rain, but David coped with it much better than Ric who, after just 6 ends, found himself 18-0 down and a white wash seemed very possible. Singles on the next two ends saved Ric that embarassment but a dropped three on the next end meant that RIc took a very early bath. He will naturally be disappointed to have performed well below his best but should console himself that he achieved what most bowlers never do. He reached Leamington and for the second time in three years.