MIXED FORTUNES IN TOP CLUB

Today saw Oakley take on local rivals Basingstoke Town in both National Top Club Competitions. At the Town green, things began badly as Spencer Kerley and Ric Newson went down to defeat in the singles events but, unlike last year, where Oakley was able to overcome the deficit by winning the three team disciplines, this year we were never in the hunt and went down to a 1-4 defeat. Oakley scores: Spencer Kerley lost 11-16, Ric Newson lost 10-21, Terry Heath and Ted Brown won 17-13, Malcolm Grime, Dave Harrison and Bob Goodyear lost 6-20, Martin Smith, Barry Lee, Sean Lassman and Fred Norris lost 7-17.

At the same time, at Oakley, the Ladies too were playing the Town. The format is different from the Men's in that it has only one singles discipline but once Nicole Rogers had stormed to a big win in the singles, gaining revenge for her defeat by the same opponent last year, and with the Pairs winning convicingly, the result was never in doubt. The disciplines were eventually shared 2-2 but the aggregate score of 81-61 was massively in Oakley's favour. Oakley scores: Nicole Rogers won 21-8, Sandra Lee and Val Ryan won 33-11, Sue Dixon, Janie Vickers and Ruth Bown lost 13-20, Jo Holland, Angie Rowe, Rita Meakin and Kay Kerley lost 14-22 .