THIRD TIME UNLUCKY FOR OAKLEY

Third time lucky did not apply to Oakley this evening as for the third time in three days they bowed out of a National team competition. Playing away against Basingstoke Town in the Tony Allcock Trophy for players over 60 years of age they started slowly and at 6 ends trailed by 3 shots. By 12 ends, however, they had sneaked into a 2 shot lead and the Oakley supporters were beginning to have confidence their team was on a roll. That confidence was soon shattered when Oakley skip Fred Norris suffered a back problem and had to withdraw from the match. Fortunately Oakley has a sub available but it meant that Fred's rink had to be restructured and Town took full advantage of Oakley's disruption scoring on that rink 10 shots in 3 ends. The drama was not over. With Fred's rink finished Oakley trailed by just 2 shots and held on the last end the two shots needed to take the match to an extra end. Town skip Steve Harris, however, succeeded in turning in a short bowl for shot and with the last of the match Oakley were unable to retrieve the situation. Would the result have been different but for Fred's injury? No one can tell and such a close match could have gone either way. We wish Town success in the next round. Oakley scores: Christine Williams, Angie Rowe, Spencer Kerley and Bob Goodyear won 16-13; Sue Dixon, Malcolm Grime, Janie Vickers and Fred Norris (sub Jim Dixon) lost 17-24.

If the Tony Allcock result was disappointing the Club was buoyed by other results this evening. Both Heather Statham and Alice Lovett had comfortable wins in the County Singles and will now play each other in the Northern Area final for a place in the County Last Eights. There was success too for Ashley Nethercliffe and Nick Hardy as they beat Old Basing in the County Pairs to book their place in the Area Final. We wish all four players good luck in the next round.