Henley dominate derby clash to move top of Plomer Cup table

HENLEY moved into top spot in the Plomer Cup table after running out 88-75 winners at WATLINGTON on Saturday.

The visitors, who won on four of the five rinks to secure 10 points to two, sit top of the table after picking up 44 out of a maximum 48 from their first four matches of the season.

Norman Daniells, with Joan Edwards and Peter Watkins, started slowly, were three down after seven ends, then picked up a five and six over the next two ends to lead 16-8 and ran out 24-18 winners.

Kevin Browne, with Nigel Bridges and Hylton Jenkins, started slowly, were 10-7 down after 11 ends, picked up a seven on end 12 to lead 14-10 and never looked back to win 22-16.

John Munnelly, with Angelika Crisa and Dougie Duguid, were evenly matched 5-4 after nine ends, scored heavily to lead 13-4 by the 12th end and won 16-11.

Steve Sullivan, with Martin Cranston and Romy Painter, raced to a six-shot lead after four ends, were pulled back to be 7-7 after 10 ends, picked up a four on the 15th end to regain the lead and won 15-12.

Peter Borsberry, with Sally Daniells and Ian Ayers, were 10-3 down after 12 ends, picked up a five to pull back to just two down but fell away again and went down 18-11.

On Sunday HENLEY went down to a 66-51 home friendly four mixed triples defeat against BASSETSBURY MANOR. Due to the hot weather, the match was reduced from 18 to 16 ends.

With an all male team, John Munnelly with Dougie Duguid and Hylton Jenkins were Henley’s only winning rink. They were evenly matched 6-6 after six ends then on end eight scored a hot shot to lead 19-6 and were never caught, winning 23-12. Kevin Browne, with Joan Edwards and Ian Ayers, were 7-3 up after eight ends but then fell away going down 15-9. Peter Borsberry, with Richard Kingston and Angelika Crisa, started slowly and struggled to match their opposition going down 23-9.

Kevin Currill, with Peter Falle and Glynis Holland, were evenly matched 10-10 after 13 ends but failed to score again, going down 16-10.

Currill was fresh from his semi-final win in the county men’s triples competition played the day before at Banbury Central Bowling Club with skip Dave Wilson and number two Simon Hatcher. This was a closely fought game with the score being tied 21-21 after the 18 ends but the Henley team scored three on the extra end to be in the final at the end of the month.

There was a disappointment for WARGRAVE on Tuesday evening last week when they went down 84-52 to WOODLEY in the Kennet League with all rinks losing by more than six shots.

The green at Woodley was heavy compared to the now fast green at Wargrave, and the hosts were able to take full advantage.

In the annual Daws Cup, an inexperienced WARGRAVE side went down to a 96-41 defeat against TWYFORD.

On Sunday WARGRAVE defeated visitors FLACKWELL HEATH in a three rinks friendly match, 54-40. Maurice Freeman, John Coombes and Norah Holder were the highest winning rink for the hosts as they triumphed 22-6. Debutant Adam Ellis, along with Heather Annetts and Martyn Mellor, lost out 17-9.

Chez Annetts, Tony Annetts and Stan Crooks started well and on the eight end they were 11-0 up. This increased to 18-3 by 11th end before Flackwell then found a late surge and won the next few ends. The rink came down to the last end, with Wargrave leading 22, 17, and Flackwell holding a six before captain Crooks played his last wood to win by one shot.

Last Wednesday SHIPLAKE went down to a 98-75 home Oddfellows Triples League defeat against PANGBOURNE.

Shiplake won on two rinks. Jean Buckett, Jeff Harris and Jane Ward won 19-16 while Margaret Bullock, David Challis and Graham Kennedy raced to a 14-0 lead after seven ends but Pangbourne hit back before the hosts won 19-13.

SHIPLAKE ran out 103-65 winners in their home friendly with TRENTHAMS on Sunday where they won on four rinks.

Shiplake’s best performing rink was that of Neil Warley, Alan Gough and Wendy Cross, 27-9. Sue Pitcher, Jean Buckett and Jim Bland won 20-11, Marilyn Mowatt, Ali Uygur and Janet Townley 18-11 and Laurie Mowatt, Sue Reid and John Townley 20-15.

SHIPLAKE suffered a Oddfellows Triples League defeat on Sunday when they went down 99-74 against TILEHURST despite winning on three of the five rinks.

The winning triples for Shiplake were David Lloyd, Sue Reid and Jane Ward 17-13, Sandra Gough, Jeff Harris and John Townley 23-13 and Pete Leverett, David Challis and Wendy Cross 15-14.