TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

This morning's national men's Top Club match against Andover was so close. On a green that had been watered earlier in the morning the pace and lines changed dramatically during the game. Both teams produced some good bowling with Oakley picking up the first of the five points on offer with a win in the Two Wood Singles after Ric Newson survived a good comeback from his opponent. Andover, however, were soon level with a comfortable win in the Four Wood Singles and the match was now very much in the balance as, although Oakley held a good lead in the Fours, the other two disciplines were too close to call. With all three disciplines playing their last end, the Oakley Fours had an almost insurmountable 8 shot lead but Oakley trailed in the Triples by 2 and led by 2 in the Pairs. For a fleeting moment Oakley looked to have clinched the overall match as they lay 3 shots in the Triples but the Andover skip rose to the occasion drawing the shot to clinch the second point for Andover. All attention now turned to the Pairs. Sean Lassman, with his last bowl turned over the head for Oakley to lie shot only for the Andover skip to kill the end necessitating the end to be replayed. This time, however, Oakley picked up 3 shots and, with the Fours having won, Oakley emerged triumphant by 3 points to 2. Oakley scores: Ric Newson won 16-11; Martin Vickers lost 10-21; Steve Devonish and Sean Lassman won 22 17; Dominic Flannigan, Spencer Kerley and Bob Goodyear lost 15-17; Jamie Fewtrell, Jim Dixon, Gerald Norris and Graham Tompkins won 19-14. In the next round Oakley will play Cove.