MIXED FORTUNES FOR WOMEN AND MEN IN CUPS

Over the last two evenings, the Club has had mixed fortunes in two very close Cup Competitions. On Thursday in the Thornbery Trophy - the Women's County Club Championship played over two rinks, we trailed early on against our nemisis Cove but by 10 ends with Ruth Bown's rink going well Oakley had established a 6 shot lead . Cove, however, pegged us back and three quarters of the way through the game Oakley trailed by some 9 shots. A fight back saw Oakley get very close but eventually Cove sneaked home by one shot. Oakley Scores: Nicole Rogers, Christine Williams, Heather Statham and Ruth Bown won 22-19, Mary Varndell, Sue Dixon, Angie Rowe and Janie Vickers lost 17-21

On Friday in the Basingstoke and District's Hants and Berks Cup played over three rinks the Men had a similarly close game playing at home to Howard Park. The early ends did not go Oakley's way and at 5 ends only Spencer Kerley's rink was leading. That rink, however dropped seven shots in two ends and at halfway the Park led by 11 shots. The game turned, however, when the rink of Fred Norris scored 14 shots in 4 ends to recover from a large deficit. With Kerley and Norris having finished, Oakley led by just three shots with two ends to play but Ted Brown's rink held its nerve and Oakley came through by 60 shots to 59. Oakley Scores: Martin Smith, Malcolm Grime, Bob Goodyear and Fred Norris won 24-21, Ric Newson, Barry Lee, Trevor Wearn and Spencer Kerley won 19-16, Ashley Nethercliffe, Keith Turnbull, Sean Lassman and Ted Brown lost 17 22