COULD THE MEN EMULATE THE WOMEN?

Tonight four quite senior gentlemen from Oakley set off for Yateley hoping to emulate the success last Monday of our ladies' four by reaching the County Quarter Finals of the Senior Fours championship. Ric Newson, Spencer Kerley and Bob Goodyear had finished runners up in the event in 2017 but tonight they were skipped by Ted Brown, as regular skip Fred Norris was in the Isle of Man. The early stages of the Area Final against Kingsclere, on a very challenging rink, were cagey with Kingsclere leading 3-2 after five ends but an Oakley score of 3 on the 6th end saw them take the lead for the first time. The rink did not allow for quality bowling but slowly Oakley established a clear lead though there was never more than seven shots in it. With 2 ends to play and 6 shots in front, Oakley looked to have the game wrapped up but Kingsclere were still in the game and with only Ted's bowl to come Kingsclere held a possible 4 shots. Fortunately Ted rose to the occasion, securing second bowl, so all Oakley had to do on the last end was to keep it tight. They did so and won the match 14-10. Oakley's men will, therefore, join the women in playing in the Last Eights at Atherley on the morning of Tuesday 25th June.