MIXED FORTUNES IN CUSHEON

There was plenty of Oakley support last night at Loddon Vale as Oakley continued their involvement with this year's Cusheon Trophy. The "B" team playing the Loddon Vale Select began slowly but after 5 ends trailed by just 3 shots. Although by 10 ends the deficit had increased to 5, Bob Goodyear's rink had drawn level, after being well behind, and there were high hopes that Oakley would recover in the second half of the game. Sadly, however, Bob's rink then lost 5 successive ends and, although John Wilson's rink was only 3 adrift by 15 ends, Oakley trailed 24-39. A determined rally then ensued and with just one end to play the overall deficit was 6. Both teams dropped shots on this last end and Oakley "B" finally lost 38-50.

Oakley Scores: Camila Kingshott, Eric Lamkin, Paul Cresswell and John Wilson lost 16-27, Jo Holland, Martin Budd, Val Ryan and Bob Goodyear lost 22-23

The "A" team's game was always expected to be a tough and close encounter against the 2015 winners Basingstoke Town and so it proved. At 5 ends Oakley led by 1 shot on both rinks and,although by 10 ends the lead had moved out to 18-10, Town came back strongly so that by 15 ends the lead was only 23-20. The turning point of the game soon followed as the rink skipped by Fred Norris picked up a 5 to move Oakley out to a 9 shot lead with a total of 8 ends to go - a lead Oakley then retained until the end of the game.

Oakley Scores: Ashley Nethercliffe, Mary Varndell, Ric Newson and Fred Norris won 22-9, Nicole Rogers, June Harvie, Dave Harrison and Ted Brown lost 14-16