NO JOY AT NORTH HANTS FINALS

Oakley's Ladies were so close to picking up three trophies at the North Hants Women's Finals but, in the end, returned home, from Alton Social, empty handed. The four of Diane Yarrall, Wendy Aherne, Sue Dixon and Janie Vickers started well, leadng 7-5 at halfway. A three on the tenth end put Fleet United ahead, for the first time, but Oakley recovered the lead with a four only to immediately drop another three. From there, scores were restricted to single shots but on the 17th end Oakley dropped another three and this proved decisive as Fleet ran out winners 17-15. The Two Bowl Singles, played over the short format of 15 ends, saw Laura Butler 3 down with 2 ends to play but, although she picked up a single on the 14th end, she was unable to pick up the necessary two to take the match to an extra end and perhaps deny Cove's Sarah Knight the title. In the Pairs, Mary Varndell and Janie Vickers made a poor start against Fleet United. Gradually they got back into the match and, on the 16th end, with one bowl to play they held a four that would have put them into the lead for the first time. Sadly for Oakley, it was Fleet's Sharon Dunt who had that last bowls and when she cut the score to two, the match was tied, just as it was in the earlier Fours. This time both teams scored singles so the match went to an extra end and, although Oakley won the toss to give them the last bowl, Fleet comfortably controlled the end to emerge as winners. Commiserations to our players. Congratulations to our opponents and thank you to the Oakley members who travelled to Alton to support our players.