SO CLOSE IN TONY ALLCOCK TROPHY

It was a tense morning at Malshanger as Oakley took on Old Basing in the National Mixed Double Rink competition for the Over 60's. Basing arrived in confident mood having beaten Basingstoke Town in the previous round and already having tasted success against Oakley in the Men's Top Club Competition and Oakley had to cope with a late change to their line up when Ric Newson felt unwell and was replaced by Jim Dixon. The first end saw both teams score a three and a pattern soon developed which saw the Oakley rink skipped by Fred Norris scoring well whilst the Bob Goodyear rink were struggling to hold their opponents. At 6 ends Oakley trailed overall by 10-11 and at 10 ends there was still a single shot deficit. With Bob's rink having only scored one shot in total and trailing two ends behind the other Oakley rink it did not look promising for Oakley. Fred's rink continued to play well and with one end to play led 18-7 whilst Bob's with three to play trailed 5-12, meaning Oakley led by four shots with just four ends left. When Fred's rink dropped a three on their 15th and last end, Oakley led by three shots with just two ends to play. When Basing scored a three on the penultimate end on Bob's rink the overall scores were level and it became a last end shoot out. Fortunately Mary Varndell and Janie Vickers rose to the occasion and setting up a good head, Bob found himself in the happy position that he did not need to bowl his last wood as Oakley sneaked a 27-25 victory. In the next round Oakley will play either Yateley or Liphook. Oakley scores: Sue Dixon, Shirley Ball, Spencer Kerley and Fred Norris won 18-10; Mary Varndell, Janie Vickers, Jim Dixon and Bob Goodyear lost 9-15.