OAKLEY JUNIORS LOSE IN NATIONAL SEMI FINAL
Oakley Bowling Club
This morning at Leamington, Nicole Rogers and Heather Statham took on the Leicestershire Pair of Tegan Grewal and Kat Bowman in the Quarter Final of the National Junior Pairs. The previous weekend Kat had finished runner up in the Sutton Winson Trophy (achieved by Nicole in 2016). The Hampshire Pair began as favourites but by 5 ends they were 7-3 down and, although they picked up a four on the eighth end to take the lead, Leicestershire immediately hit back with a three to retake the lead. A score of five on the 11th end saw Oakley lead 15-10 and when they held six on the next end it looked as if a comfortable win was on the cards. Kat, however, had other ideas and a fine bowl reduced the count to two and for the next few ends, as Nicole set up some good positions, Kat produced some telling running bowls to convert heads. Nonetheless Oakley went into the last end 4 up and, holding two shots with the back well covered and two bowls left to play, Oakley looked to have secured the match. Again Kat played an excellent running bowl and when the jack bounced to the only place on the green where Oakley could concede it looked as if Oakley might again be denied at the last gasp. Heather, however, was up to the task and with the last bowl of the end she secured the second bowl necessary to take Oakley into the semi final.
Half an hour later the girls were back on a different green to play the semi final. This time the position was different as they found themselves up aginst the event favourites, the current holders and the 2019 British Isles Champions, Devon Cooper and Rachel Tremlett from Hertfordshire. The early ends were close but gradually Hertfordshire moved into a 12-5 lead and the game then slipped from Oakley's grasp when holding three shots, Heather, with the last bowl of the end and attempting to add a fourth, moved the jack to three of her opponents bowls. Hertfordshire boosted by this good fortune then moved into top gear and deservedly won 22-6. The girls were naturally disapponted to lose at this late stage, when not at their best, but after a fortnight when it seemed the fates were against them they are to be congratulated on keeping their cool and never giving up. It is no mean feat to reach Leamington and few go on to reach a national semi final.
Find Oakley Bowling Club
Oakley Bowling Club, Malshanger, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG23 7EY