GIRL POWER AGAIN

Today saw both a men's and women's Oakley rink playing at Atherley in the Bowls Hampshire Senior Fours Last Eights and for the men's rink of Ric Newson, Spencer Kerley, Bob Goodyear and Fred Norris it was a morning to forget. Runners up in the same event in 2017 they never came to grips with the speed and lines on the lower green and were comprehensively out bowled by their opponents who play on an artificial green at Cowplain,losing 5-20.

Meantime on the upper green Mary Varndell, Sue Dixon, Angie Rowe and Janie Vickers were facing a Fareham team comprising three players with Johns Trophy experience and, although Fareham started well scoring 3 on the first two ends, by 7 ends Oakley were leading 9-3, a lead that by 14 ends had increased to 15-6. It was now just necessary to ensure that no high scores were conceded which Oakley did successfully winning by 16-8.

Moving, in the afternoon, to the lower green the Oakley players struggled rather more to find line and length, on what they felt was a much more difficult surface, but the cause was perhaps helped by the fact that their opponents Hyde Abbey had to bring in a substitute for current Johns Trophy skip Janet Williamson. Oakley began well and leading 9-6 the critical moment was probably when, with Hyde Abbey holding three good shots on the 13th end, Angie picked up the jack leading to Oakey scoring a four and taking a 14-6 lead. Again it was the case for the remaining 5 ends of keeping it tight and when Oakley went into the 18th and last end seven shots up the match was all but over although Hyde Abbey scored a late consolation four, Oakley won 16-13 to move into the County Final to be held on Wednesday 10th July. The winners of the Final will represent Hampshire at the National Finals at Leamington.