OAKLEY PIP TOWN IN MIXED TOP CLUB

This morning's game against Basingstoke Town in the County Mixed Top Club did not begin well for Oakley. With a point available for each discipline, Oakley, after 5 ends, led in the Men's Singles but were trailing in the other four disciplines. The Men's Singles point went to Ashley Nethercliffe who beat Joe Kinge in a high quality match where the scoreline did not do justice to the performance of Ashley's opponent. At this stage Heather Statham, after trailing 9-10, had established a 19-10 lead against Tracey Thomas and it looked as if the second point was also heading Oakley's way. Tracey, however, had other ideas and winning 3 successive ends, including a four, she closed to 19-17. With Town winning, seemingly comfortably, in the Pairs and Fours, if Town picked up the point in the second Singles it would likely lead to an overall Town victory. Fortunately for Oakley, Heather held her nerve and triumphed 21-18. It was now a question of whether somehow Oakley could pick up the third point. Town were almost guaranteed a point in the Pairs where they had a big lead and in the Fours and Triples they led by 4 shots and 3 shots with 4 ends left on both matches. In the end It was agonisingly close. Town picked up the Pairs point and as the Triples went into the last end Oakley were adrift by one shot. Would Oakley conjure up 2 shots and clinch the match or would Town take the point and leave the result to the last end of the Fours where Oakley had now levelled the scores? The Oakley triple did the necessary, scoring a last end three to pick up the critical third point and ensure victory for Oakley in what had been an absorbing and thrilling match. Well played both teams.

Scores: (Oakley names first) Ashley Nethercliffe beat Joe Kinge 21-8; Heather Statham beat Tracey Thomas 21-18; Janie Vickers and Sean Lassman lost to Camilla Kingshott and Matt Carr 7-25; Steve Devonish, Ruth Bown and Nick Hardy beat Dave Goddard, Jackie Garrett and Bill Lawer 18-16; Mary Varndell, Ric Newson, Graham Tompkins and Alice Lovett drew with Caz Harris, Steve Harris, Paula Haynes and Trevor Morgan 15-15.