YOUNGSTERS FIGHT BACK IN VAIN

Tonight at Yateley, two of Oakley's youngsters, Nicole Rogers and Heather Statham were taking on the reigning County Champions Hazel Marke and Margaret Holden in the Northern Area Final of the County Pairs. They made a disasterous start dropping a five on the first end by 11 ends they were trailling 3-17 and the game looked all but over. Nicole and Heather are, however, nothing but competitive and gradually they hauled themselves back into the game and with 2 ends to play needed just 4 shots to complete a great comeback. Any movement of the jack on the penultimate end would have given them a big score but it was not to be and Oakley lost narrowly 16-18. Still the girls have the consolation that they will be representing Hampshire at the National Championships in both the Junior Singles and the Junior Pairs.

Meantime at Basingstoke Town, Oakley's Men were attempting to advance in the Hants and Berks Cup. From the outset Town stormed into a comfortable lead but with the rink of Fred Norris struggling and being outbowled on a tricky rink it always looked to be a hard task to recover the situation . Nonetheless at 15 ends only 3 shots separated the teams but for the remainder of the game the Town were in the ascendency eventually emerging comfortable winners. Oakley scores: Terry Heath, Sean Lassman, Ted Brown and Ashley Nethercliffe drew 16-16, Ric Newson, Jim Dixon, Spencer Kerley and Fred Norris lost 29-13, Keith Turnbull, Martin Smith, Malcolm Grime and Bob Goodyear won 21-18