GIRLS STRUGGLE AT BANISTER

It was not a good morning for Heather Statham and Alice Lovett in today's quarter final of the Bowls Hampshire Pairs event. With Heather having reached the semi-final of the Two Wood event and with Alice playing tomorrow in the quarter final of the Four Wood Singles, Oakley started as favourites in their game against Mo Burford and Sue Chappell of Knyveton Gardens, it was, however, the Knyveton pair that started best and after 5 ends Oakley trailed 2-7 and although they kept closing the gap by 12 ends they were still 8-10 down. By 15 ends Knyveton had moved out to a 4 shot lead but when Oakley scored a 4 to level the match at 14-14 it was game on. The penultimate end was critical as with Knyveton holding 4 shots Alice had double misfortune. Twice she played good bowls moving the jack towards Oakley's back bowls but on both occasions the jack stuck on a Knyveton bowl. Dropping four shots at that time was a hammer blow and Knyveton safely saw out the final end to claim victory and move into the semi-final and be one game from a trip to Leamington.