BUSY DAY FOR OAKLEY

With five players representing Hampshire today in the Middleton Cup and Johns Trophy, this morning's Mixed Top Club match against Fleet United looked to be a good test of the club's sterngth in depth. Early stages did not go Oakley's way. Terry Heath, having travelled back from Illminster, for the match, began well as did the Triples where Ruth Bown and Nick Hardy playing together for the first time struck up an immediate rapport. However, Mary Varndell in the Ladies Singles and the Fours were struggling, although not as much as the Pairs which dropped 9 shots in the first two ends. This pattern continued for much of the match but with Terry Heath having picked up the first point in the Men's Singles a dramatic fight back by Mary Varndell from 5-14 to tie her singles at 19-19 gave hope that the match would swing clearly in Oakley's favour. Sadly Mary was unable to capitalise on her come back, but by the time the Triples landed their point the Fours had sneaked a very narrow lead and with the Pairs having stormed back from their early deficit the match seemed destined to go Oakley's way. So it proved. The Fours won by 1 shot giving Oakley the necessary 3 points for victory.and so Fleet conceded the match with the pairs still having 4 ends to play and the Oakley pair leading by 8 shots - quite a turn around from 0-9. Oakley scores: Terry Heath won 21-14; Mary Varndell lost 20-21; Janie Vickers and Sean Lassman won 23-18; Sue Dixon, Shirley Ball, Rc Newson and Bob Goodyear won 17-16, Steve Devonish, Ruth Bown and Nick Hardy won 21-11.

The five players on Hampshire duty also had a successful day. Leigh Allen, Ashley Nethercliffe and Jason Rogers all led for Bowls Hampshire Men as they overcame the Isle of Wight in the Middleton Cup, whilst Alice Lovett and Heather Statham helped Hampshire's women to a convincing win over Bucks in the Johns Trophy. Congratulations to everyone.