HOW TIMES CHANGE

Just 13 years ago Aldershot Traction reigned supreme as the National Top Club Champions and any game between them and Oakley invariably resulted in a comprehensive win for Traco. Last evening a Traco team containing only two players from their halcyon days travelled to take on Oakley in the Bowls Hampshire County Club Championship played over 4 men's rinks and with home advantage Oakley felt they might, this time, just have the edge. The early exchanges saw both Nick Hardy's and Ashley Nethercliffe's rinks surge out of the blocks and although the rink skipped by Graham Tompkins had yet to score Oakley led at 5 ends by 14 shots. The lead hovered around 15 for the next 5 ends but by now Graham's rink was pulling back and a flurry of score between 10 and 15 ends saw Oakley move out to a 38 shot lead. The match was now Oakley's to lose but this looked unlikely and Traco conceded the game after 17 ends with Oakley leading 85-40. Oakley scores: Steve Devonish, Jim Dixon, Sean Lassman and Nick Hardy won 28-7; Jamie Fewtrell, Spencer Kerley, Ric Newson and Ashley Nethercliffe won 18-9; Martin Smith, Gerald Norris, Malcolm Grime and Graham Tomkins won 19-15; John Yarrall, Ted Brown, Bob Goodyear and Jason Rogers won 20-9.