Oakley’s Women’s Four and Basingstoke Town’s Men’s Four have both progressed through Northern Area Finals to reach the Bowls Hampshire Quarter Finals to be played at Southampton, writes Colin Statham.

The Oakley team of Mary Varndell, Sue Dixon, Anjie Rowe and Janie Vickers led throughout their game against Alton Social, but it was only at the 15th end after scoring a seven that the 2022 County Runners-up could be confident of victory.

It was such a different story for the Town team of Zac Millar, sub Dave Morris, Trevor Morgan and Richard Burgin.

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Against Yateley they stormed out of the blocks scoring a 6 and a 7 in the first few ends and from then on there was only one team in it as Town emerged victorious by 27 shots to 7.

The picture is of the team expected to play at Southampton with Ian Wilson coming back in to replace Dave Bishop.

Fortune did not, however, favour the Town Four of Mary Morgan, Marianne Chadwick, Anita Christian and Paula Haynes in the Area Final of the Ladies’  Senior Fours where they came up against an Alton Social Four, three of whom were, in this event, the British Isles champions in 2019.

The Basingstoke Triples League saw Kingsclere consolidate their position at the top of Division 1 with another 5 points and a huge 76-35 win over Andover and, at the half way stage Kingsclere are hot favourites for the title.

A similar situation occurs in Division 2 where unbeaten leaders Basingstoke Town also picked up 5 points as they won at St Mary Bourne by 81 shots to 34. There were again no matches in the Basingstoke Fours League where format changes introduced for 2023 have seen a reduction in the number of competing teams.

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There has been little change at the top of the Whitchurch Mixed Leagues with Andover Lions, Kingsclere Partridges, Old Basing Roundheads and Aldermaston Elms continuing to dominate their Divisions.

There was, however, a surprise at the bottom of Division 3 with bottom club Marnell Blues hammering Oakley Kites and moving within a point of their opponents.

The Thursday afternoon League (the Stan Hardman League) is approaching the halfway point and already, in Area 1, Basingstoke Town with points look guaranteed to make the end of season play-offs.  Other local teams with a good chance to qualify are Howard Park Harlequins, Howard Park Saints, Oakley B and Aldermaston.