Basingstoke bowls team reach last 32 of national competition

They began by defeating the Portsmouth team, Milton Park, 4-1 to clinch, for the first time in their history, a place in the last 32 of the National Top Club competition.

They are now just two wins away from an appearance in the national finals at Royal Leamington Spa.

Basingstoke Town are edging closer to the National Finals. (Image: Colin Statham) Less than 48 hours later, they were back on the green at Kingsclere, competing in the finals of the Hants and Berks Cup, this time drawing on several different players as four of the normal team were competing in the County quarter-finals at Southampton.

The morning semi-finals saw Town beat Oakley to set up an afternoon final against Howard Park, who had beaten Old Basing. Again, Town came out on top to lift the trophy.

Town’s successes have not been confined to team events.

Martin Mason (sub John Purser), Zac Miller, Bill Lawer and Adam White reached the County Fours quarter-final but lost out to a rink from Purbrook Heath.

Ian Wilson and Anita Christian have reached the quarter-finals of the 4 Bowl Singles and, with three teams in the Area Finals of the Triples, Town are also guaranteed a quarter-final place in that event.

Basingstoke Town's Hants & Berks team. (Image: Colin Statham) An Oakley triple, skipped by Alice Lovett, has also reached the quarter-final but Alice’s involvement in the Two Bowl Singles ended at semi-final stage as she narrowly missed going on to represent Hampshire at the Nationals.

In the Basingstoke and District Men’s Fours League, neither Division 1 leaders Alton Social "A", nor third placed Town "A" played but the title looks to be going to one of these two teams, following second placed Oakley’s 5-0 defeat by Town "B".

In Division 2, Old Basing are now strong favourites for the title, particularly after second placed Whitchurch "B" lost 5-0 to Oakley "B".

In the mixed Triples league Oakley "A", after a 5-2 away win against Town "A" extended their lead in the Premier Division to nine points whilst in Division I, a clash of the top two, saw Whitchurch Silks beat St Mary Bourne 7-0 to go eight points clear and become strong favourites for promotion.

Burghfield "B", in Division 2, are now 10 points clear although Town "B" have a match in hand.

In the Whitchurch Mixed League Division 1, only three points separate the two Basingstoke Town teams and Kingsclere "A", whilst in Division 2, again, just three points separate Aldermaston Oaks, Alton "A" and St Mary Bourne.

Marnell Jades’ big lead in Division 3 has again been substantially reduced following a successive 4-1 defeat and Andover Stags and Hook Hares are closing in.

In Division 4, the leaders, Andover Eagle, suffered a shock 4-1 home defeat, to bottom club, Thornycroft but retained their place at the top.