COUNTY CHAMPIONS

This morning at Banister Park, Ashley Nethercliffe and Nick Hardy were playing in the Final of the Men's County Pairs Championship and looking to follow in the footsteps of former Oakley winners and Club legends Fred Norris and Mick Tooth (1998) and Colin Taylor and Ted Brown (2005) by bringing the title back to Oakley. They were facing a big challenge against Southsea Waverley's Rob Moran and current England International Matthew Marchant but began well with a two on the first end and by the fourth end led 5-2. The green was a good pace but tricky and whilst both teams struggled at times to find the line the Oakley pair generally were getting more bowls into the head and making it difficult for Matthew to display the skills that took him to the National Champion of Champion's title. By ten ends Oakley led 11-5 and when, on the thirteenth end, Oakley held 5 shots the match looked all but over. Matthew, however, saved the situation with his final bowl but Oakley still led 15-5 and when, at fifteen ends, they moved out to 19-5 it was a question only of when Waverley would concede. This they did after 16 ends. The Club's congratulations go to Ashley and Nick and we wish them luck when they play Durham at Leamington on the 22nd August. The Red Arrows flew over Oakley's green shortly after the match finished but there is no truth in the rumour this was a celebration flight organised by the Club.

There was success also for other Northern Area teams at the Finals as Alton Social's Margaret Holden and Adam White lifted the Women's and Men's Singles titles and Alton's David Sims continued his last end heroics, in the Men's Two Wood Singles, by beatiing Peter Ward, the 2018 National runner up. The Cove triple skipped by Jim Marsland also won, so with the afternoon events still to take place the North had won 5 titles out of 8 contested.