MEN WIN IN COUNTY CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

This evening Oakley's Men were at home to Liphook in the County Club Championship. It was raining as the teams emerged onto the green, clad in their waterproofs, but fortunately as the game progressed the weather improved. Ashley Nethercliffe, at the tender age of 17 made his club debut as a skip, thus becoming the club's youngest ever skip, and his rink made a very successful start enabling Oakley, at 5 ends, to lead by 22-17. Spencer Kerley's rink was, however, struggling against the one skipped by Ernest Ward but, with the other rinks doing well, Oakley, by 10 ends, had increased their lead to 41-30. There were a few scares over the next few ends but, with Kerley's rink pulling back, Oakley had by 15 ends moved into a 67-48 lead. The closing ends saw all the Oakley rinks score heavily and with 2 rinks still to complete and Oakley leading 89-56, the game was conceded by Liphook. Oakley scores: Malcolm Grime, John Wilson, Stan Mond and Fred Norris won 23-14, Martin Smith, Barry Lee, Ric Newson and Ashley Nethercliffe won 26-16, Keith Turnbull, Brian Nethercliffe, Sean Lassman and Ted Brown won 23-13, Terry Heath, Peter Bown, Dave Harrison and Spencer Kerley won 17-14.

In the next round, Oakley will be away to Yateley.