JUNIORS PERFORM WELL AT LEAMINGTON

This morning two Oakley Juniors, representing Bowls Hampshire, began their campaign in the National Women's Junior Singles at Royal Leamington Spa. First up was Heather Statham who began poorly in her game against E Muir of Northamptonshire trailing 2-5 and 7-11 but recovered well to lead 20-14. Her opponent rallied strongly to tie the game at 20-20 before Heather, holding her nerve, scored the necessary shot for victory. Nicole Rogers then entered the fray and shot into a 8-1 lead against E O'Hanlon of Norfolk but again the opponent came back into the game at 14-14 before Nicole ran out the 21-16 winner. At 2 pm both players were back on the green and again made slow starts with Nicole 4-6 down against fellow Junior International Emma Cooper of Sussex and Heather 0-11 down to A Fordy of Yorkshire. For Heather, playing for the first time in the Junior Singles, this was a game too far as she struggled to find weight and line losing 6-21. Nicole, however, got back into her game eventually running out a 21-18 winner. It was now time for Nicole's third game of the day and she found herself up against Junior International skip and the 2016 Young Woman Bowler of the Year Harriet Stevens from the Kings Club in Devon. Again Nicole trailed 6-8 but from then on the match became very tight with the scores tied at 11-11 and 15-15 before a 3 and 3 singles saw Nicole move into the quarter final to be played tomorrow morning. Unfortunately many members who would have been present to support Nicole will tomorrow be attending club stalwart Trevor Wearn's funeral. Everyone at the club wishes her good luck and will be following her progress from afar.