MEN REACH COUNTY TOP CLUB SEMI

With both teams having to make changes from previous rounds this morning's County quarter final of the National Top Club had all the hallmarks of being a tight game and so it proved. Despite Oakley's "giant killing" in earlier rounds, Basingstoke Town, with home advantage, were probably slight favourites but the first point went to Oakley as Martin Vickers won the Two Bowl Singles. Town were soon level as Adam White had a comfortable win in the Four Bowl Singles. Oakley were establishing a good lead in the Triples but the Pairs and Fours were, for much of the match, too close to call. It was Town, however, that emerged triumphant in the Fours and with the Town Pairs 5 shots up with just one end to play the match seemed to have slipped away from Oakley. Somehow Steve Devonish and Sean Lassman (pictured) conjured up a five to tie their game and take it to an extra end. By now it was clear the Triples point would go to Oakley so the spectatators were treated to a thrilling extra end shoot out to decide which of two, on the day, very evenly matched Clubs would come out on top. It was Oakley that won that extra end to progress, for the first time, to the County semi-final where they will meet Fareham. Oakley scores: Martin Vickers won 15-10; Ric Newson lost 9-21; Steve Devonish and Sean Lassman won 21-18; Hugh Aherne, Malcolm Grime and Spencer Kerley won 19-10; Gary Newson, Jim Dixon, Rolf Denny and Graham Tompkins lost 16-17.