Two members of Oakley Bowling Club representing Hampshire finished second in lawn bowling at the Home Counties Finals.

Having come past Middlesex, Ashley Nethercliffe and Nick Hardy of Oakley played the semi-final at Old Coulsdon, against Oxfordshire, and were soon 10-0 down.

However, they adjusted to the pace of the green and recovered to reach the final with a score of 28-19.

They began well in the final but, against a strong Kent pairing of Tom Bishop, a former national singles champion, and Michael Cheeseman, the Oakley pair were outbowled on longer lengths, and had to settle for runners up, losing 20-13.

A total of eight counties contested in the tournament.

In National Competitions, Nethercliffe and Hardy were also members of the Oakley team that won away 4-1 in the National Top Club competition against Cove “B”.

Few other National Competitions took place in the week although in the National Mixed Pairs – Basingstoke Town’s Matt Carr beat Hardy 20-18 and in the Tony Allcock Trophy, the two-rink competition for those aged over 60, Oakley beat Andover 34-22.

With the local leagues now underway, play in the early weeks in the Whitchurch Mixed Triples League suggest that all four divisions are likely to be closely contested.

Of the 17 teams that have completed three matches only Old Basing Cavaliers and Oakley Woodpeckers have won all three.

Last week belonged to Old Basing as the Cavaliers beat Andover Lions to take Andover’s place at the top of Division 1.

Old Basing’s Roundheads also moved top of Division 3 pushing Littleton into second place although Littleton have a game in hand.

Old Basing Royalists are handily placed in Division 4, sharing second place with Oakley Kites, both teams 0.5 points behind leaders Thornycroft.

The Basingstoke and District Men’s League has begun and the first week saw a brilliant last bowl by Whitchurch’s Ian Hayward consign last year’s champions Oakley to a 3-1 home defeat.

It is Kingsclere, however, that occupy top spot after picking up maximum points against Alton, whilst Alton Social won 3-1 against Basingstoke Town and Howard Park beat Old Basing 4-1.