OAKLEY LADIES SHINE IN THE RAIN
Oakley Bowling Club
Saturday dawned wet and, although the Met Office forecast was for the weather to clear by 10 am, Oakley's game against Milton Park Ladies in the National Top Club began in heavy drizzle which continued for much of the morning. The early exchanges were close with the Oakley Fours trailing 2-6 and the Pairs 4-5 but Oakley led in both the Singles and Triples. The first Discipline to be decided was the Singles with Nicole Rogers coming out on top against Min Wright and at this stage things looked good for Oakley. The Fours had picked up an eight to lead 17-6, the Triples led 10 -6 and the Pairs were down only 7-10. Then the momentum changed. The Oakley Triple conceded 10 shots in 4 ends and the Pairs 10 shots in 5 ends and what looked like being a 3-1 victory or even a comfortable win on the aggregate was now in doubt. Indeed, with Milton Park reducing the overall deficit to a mere 3 shots, a win for the visitors looked the more likely outcome. The Triples, however, came again and reducing the deficit to 1 shot playing their last end they held the shot and a 2.5 to 1.5 win for Oakley looked on the cards. The Oakley Triple were, however, to be denied. The Bowls Hampshire Vice President Mandy Orchard drew two excellent shots to win the discipline for Milton and with the Oakley Fours and the Milton Pairs well up the match was now destined to be decided by the aggregate score. The pressure was now on and the Oakley supporters fears, that Oakley might wilt, proved unfounded as the Pairs bounced back to win the last 5 ends by 8-1 and the Fours built on their lead to win 6-2. A close encounter and a game of fine margins finally ended with the clubs both winning 2 disciplines but Oakley emerged victorious with a 78-62 win. Oakley scores: Nicole Rogers won 21-12; Shirley Ball and Val Ryan lost 15-21; Mary Varndell, Heather Statham and Alice Lovett lost 16-19; Sue Dixon, Ruth Bown, Angie Rowe and Janie Vickers won 26-10.
This win takes Oakley into the last 16 nationally and to achieve a place in the quarter finals they will have to beat either twice national runners up Sutton or twice winners Egham.
Find Oakley Bowling Club
Oakley Bowling Club, Malshanger, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG23 7EY