LADIES SUCCEED WHERE MEN FAIL

Last night at home, Oakley Ladies faced a difficult task as they took on Alton Social in the Thornbery Trophy, the Bowls Hampshire Women's Club Championship. Social have been Northern Area Champions for the last 5 years, having lifted the County title in three of those years and, although missing Bowls England President and Johns Trophy skip Hazel Marke, they were still able to field three of the rink that, at the weekend in Jersey, had lifted the British Isles Senior Fours title. Social, therefore, probably began as favourites but the Oakley rink skipped by 15 year old Alice Lovett stormed out of the blocks, establishing an early lead of 15 -2, and with Janie Vickers rink more than holding its own against that of the redoubtable Johns Trophy skip Margaret Holden the early signs were promising . It would have been so easy, at this stage, for Oakley to take their foot off the gas but to their credit a relatively inexperienced team, with three players under the age of 20, stuck to their task emerging triumphant by 44 shots to 12. Oakley Scores: Mary Varndell, Marion Bringes, Sue Dixon and Janie Vickers won 17-9; Nicole Rogers, Val Ryan, Heather Statham and Alice Lovett won 27-3.