MEN LOSE AT THE DEATH

This evenings County Club Championship match (4 Rinks) between Oakley and Cove was a nail biter. Oakley had never beaten Cove in this event and, although, at 6 ends, Oakley had a narrow 2 shot lead it was expected that as the game progressed the greater experience of Cove would see them through. However, by 12 ends Oakley had increased their lead to 10 shots, and shortly afterwards the lead had risen to 17 shots. Hopes rose of a surprise victory but disaster struck for Ric Newson's rink as his front three players failed to perform. At 14 ends they were tied at 14-14 but in the last 4 ends, despite some excellent attempts by Ric to retrieve the situation, they dropped a huge 19 shots. The other three Oakley rinks did their utmost to cover this deficit but their efforts fell just short as Cove moved into the next round with a 79-76 victory.

Oakley scores: Jamie Fewtrell, Jim Dixon, Gary Newson and Graham Tompkins won 21-10, Hugh Aherne, John Yarrall, Spencer Kerley and Ric Newson lost 14-33, Martin Smith, Peter Pearce, Steve Devonish and Rolf Denny won 21-16, Keith Turnbull, M Grime, Nigel Bechelet and Sean Lassman drew 20-20.