TRIPLES HOPES DASHED

With two teams in the Area Finals of the County Triples, there were high hopes tonight that, even though Ted Brown's team was up against Alton Social ,the reigning County Champions, the Club would have representation in the forthcoming County quarter finals at Southampton. The triple of Ashley Nethercliffe, Bob Goodyear and Fred Norris began badly and were 2-5 down against Basingstoke Town after just 3 ends and by half way the deficit was 7-12. An Oakley recovery saw them level at 14 ends and when a four was picked up on the 15th end it looked as if Oakley were in the driving seat. However some fortuitous bowls on the 16th end saw the Town score a two and then on the 17th end Town skip Richard Birgin bowled 3 wonderful bowls to convert the head for a score of four and eventually the Town triumphed 21-18. In the other game, the Oakley triple of Ric Newson, Spencer Kerley and Ted Brown led 5-3 after 5 ends but by half way they trailed 6-12 largely because Social's skip Adam White was being particularly successful with his running bowls killing 2 ends when Oakley had good position and because on the 8th end when trying to put in a back wood he accidentally moved the jack to gain 4 shots. Undeterred, by 14 ends, Oakley had reduced the deficit to just 3 shots. The turning point came on the next end when Adam, looking for a big score narrowly missed taking out the nearest Oakley bowl but sliced the jack so that he held 4 shots and with Ted Brown unable to recover the situation Social took a vitually unassailable 18-10 lead and they eventually deservedly won 20-13. We wish the Town and Social good luck at Southampton and the thanks of our players go out to all those who came along to support us.