National and league action for Basingstoke bowls clubs

With the visitors using the match to give practice to three rinks of their expected Johns Trophy team, Middlesex were hot favourites, but it was Hampshire that stormed to an impressive 104-79 victory.

There were mixed fortunes for local teams in the national team competitions.

Hampshire Ladies took on Middlesex at Oakley. (Image: Colin Statham)

In the Men's Top Club Competition, Basingstoke Town had a 3-2 victory at Oakley and Town's 'B' team beat Alton Social 'B' 33-16 in the Two Rink competition.

For Whitchurch, it was a bad day going down 36-12 at home to Alton Social 'A', but Kingsclere had a 47-18 win at Yateley.

The only Tony Allcock trophy match saw Hook win 32-27 at Yateley.

Sunday morning saw the first-round matches in the County mixed Top Club competition.

Kingsclere forfeited their game with Liphook, but the other four matches were close with 3-2 wins for Howard Park at home to Alton, for Hook against Fleet United, and for Oakley at Petersfield.

Old Basing went down 3-2 at home to Cove.

The fourth round of matches in the Whitchurch Mixed League again saw change at the top of Division 1.

With leaders Basingstoke Spades match postponed, Oakley Buzzards went top, despite losing 4-3 to Kingsclere Partridges.

There was a similar situation in Division 2, where leaders Alton Social did not play and were overtaken by Whitchurch Blues and Littleton Leopards.

There was change too in Division 3 as Howard Park Kestrels 7-0 win against Littleton Lemurs took them top.

The new Division 4 leaders are Aldermaston Elms who regained their lead after a 7-0 win over Marnell Royals.

In Division 1 of the Basingstoke Men's league, Basingstoke Town 'A' and Alton Social 'A' maintained their unbeaten runs whilst lower in the table Kingsclere 'A' picked up their first win against Whitchurch.

In Division 2, previously unbeaten leaders Alton went down to a heavy defeat to Hook.

Report by Colin Statham