MIXED FORTUNES IN TOP CLUB EVENTS

Sunday morning saw Oakley Ladies take on Cove, the 2017 national quarter finalists, in the first game in this year's Women's Top Club Event. A tough match was always in prospect and so it proved with the result in the balance for much of the morning. The triple of Marion Bringes, Alice Lovett and Ruth Bown had a very tight game against Donna Taylor's team, eventually drawing and sharing the match point.. The rink of Sue Dixon, Val Ryan, Claire Flannigan and Kay Kerley were, however, always in trouble against Allyson Flint's rink and whilst the pair of Angie Rowe and Janie Vickers won comfortably, it was the earlier singles that probably proved crucial. Nicole Rogers and Karen Cranham were locked at 20-20 and with one bowl to play Nicole lay the shot that would have given her the game and Oakley a very important point. Karen, however, had other ideas and with the final bowl turned in one of her own to win the match. The final match score was Cove 2.5 Oakley 1.5 but would the result have been different but for that bowl? Who can say in what was a closely contested match.

A sweltering late Monday afternoon saw Oakley take on Farnborough Gate in the County Mixed Top Club Competition. Unlike the Women's event there are five disciplines, including 2 singles events, and Oakley made a flying start as Ashley Nethercliffe white washed his opponent in the Men's Singles. The rink of Janie Vickers, Spencer Kerley, Ruth Bown and Fred Norris also began well but Mary Varndell was having a tight game in the Women's Singles and at one stage the triple of Alice Lovett, Terry Heath and Bob Goodyear were a little down whilst Ric Newson and Kay Kerley were drawing in the pairs. However, Mary, recovering from a 15-17 deficit. won her game and shortly afterwards the Triples ran out convincing winners to give Oakley the required 3 points for the win. At this point, with Oakley leading comfortably in the other now "dead rubbers", Farnborough Gate conceded the match and 22 players enthusiastically escaped from the heat and enjoyed their cold drinks and sandwiches.