It has been a promising start for Basingstoke clubs in the Whitchurch and District mixed bowls league, writes Colin Statham.  

After week four, Basingstoke Town Spades sit second in Division 1 just half a point behind leaders Andover Lions with a game in hand.  

Kingsclere Partridges trail leaders Alton Social by one point in Division 2 while in Divisions 3 and 4 Oakley Kites and Oakley Wagtails are in second place in their respective divisions.

Basingstoke Town have also started well in the Stan Hardman Thursday Afternoon League where, in Area 1, they share the lead with Alton Social.  

In Area 3, Howard Park Harlequins share the lead with Hook Sapphires and Aldermaston lead Area 4.

National team competitions are also under way and results have been mixed.  

In the Men’s Top Club, Town and Oakley have recorded 4-1 wins over Kingsclere and Fleet United but Old Basing lost 2-3 to Alton.

Town Ladies have also been successful in the ladies’ event, drawing the disciplines 2-2, but beating a strong Cove team 74-62 on shots aggregate.

There was a big win 55-16 for Oakley in the Men’s Double Rink competition and Old Basing, after a 41-40 win over Kingsclere, also, made progress beating Farnborough 38-21.

However, Howard Park 25-44 against Yateley and Basingstoke Town 12-36 against Whitchurch went out of the competition.  

In the Tony Allcock trophy, for those aged over 60, Old Basing had a good away win 33-27 against Oakley whilst Basingstoke Town which entered two teams saw their “A” team lose 29-39 to Alton but their “B” team beat Yateley 33-25.

Individual successes in the National Champion of Champions competitions have been few but Andrew Lowe of Hook and Uwe Brown of Kingsclere have progressed in the Men’s event as has Laura Butler of Oakley in the Women’s.