Wargrave take bragging rights as they win back Hedges Cup

HENLEY went down to a narrow 73-71 Oddfellows Triples League defeat at home to PANGBOURNE on Wednesday of last week.

Henley won two and drew one of the five rinks played to secure five league points to the visitors’ nine.

Peter Borsberry, with Simon Hatcher and Ian Gibson, were evenly matched at 6-5 after eight ends, picked up a four but were then pegged back to 10-9 by the 13th end. They then pulled away to win 15-10.

Kevin Browne, with Joan Edwards and Nigel Bridges, stormed into a 14-shot lead by the 11th but dropped 12 shots over the next three ends to lead 17-15 but they managing to steady themselves to win 19-17.

Norman Daniells, with Martin Cranstoun and Angelika Crisa, were evenly matched with the lead changing frequently. Henley scored a three to level the scores 12-12 by the 16th end and in failing light finished with a draw at 13-13.

John Munnelly, with Sally Daniells and Kevin Currill, started slowly, pulled ahead 10-7 by the 14th end but then let the visitors back in, dropping five shots over the next three ends to be 12-10 down. Although they scored on the last end it was not enough and Henley lost 12-11.

Steve Sullivan, with Dougie Duguid and Romy Painter, were fairly evenly matched over 13 ends but fell away over the remaining ends and went down 21-13.

On Thursday of last week HENLEY ran out 87-78 winners at HIGH WYCOMBE in a five mixed triples match having won on three and drawing on one rink.

John Munnelly, with Hylton Jenkins and Chris Swann, were Henley’s highest winning rink. They were eight up after eight ends and went on to win 20-8. Kevin Browne, with Ken Rumens and Melinda Swann, were 10-9 down after 10 ends but then pulled away to run out 23-14 winners.

Peter Menhinick, with Terry Hearmon and Phil Smillie, were always playing catch-up but managed to level the score 13-13 by the 14th end. They dropped two on the next end but scored a six on the 16th and held on to win 19-18.

Joan Edwards, with Nigel Bridges and Richard Kingston, scored regularly over the first three ends, fell away to 13-5 down after 10 ends but then scored strongly to lead 15-13 by the 16th. Wycombe scored on the remaining ends to produce a 15-15 draw.

Skip Peter Borsberry started the game with an injury and had to retire after five ends. The game continued with the Henley pair of Martin Cranstoun and Romy Painter, fighting valiantly but they were unable to match the Wycombe triple and went down 23-10.

On Saturday HENLEY played a one-day two wood singles competition. Twelve players entered into two pools of six with each pool member playing five games each over 10 ends.

The semi-finals were played between Kevin Browne (blue pool winner) versus Simon Hatcher (red pool runner-up) and John Munnelly (red pool winner) versus Hylton Jenkins (blue pool runner-up).

Hatcher beating last year’s winner Browne and last year’s runner-up Jenkins beat Munnelly. In the final Hylton beat Hatcher.

On Sunday HENLEY went down to a 49-38 three mixed triples friendly defeat against visitors WARGRAVE, having drawn on one and losing on two rinks.

Peter Menhinick, with Angelika Crisa and Martin Cranstoun, drew 11-11 with Wargrave’s Vic Waite, Stan Crooks and Jean Burton, with the visitors taking the last shot on the last end. Steve Sullivan, with Andrea Tate and Ramsay Adams, struggled to score consistently, eventually going down 19-13 to Wargrave’s John Tegg, Martyn Mellor and Peter Burton.

Joan Edwards, with Keith Lawrence and Hylton Jenkins, made a slow start and trailed 14-2 by the ninth end. They mounted a spirited comeback to close the gap to three shots by the 16th end but it was too little too late as they went down 19-14 to Norah Holder, Ray Gardiner and Tony Boffin.

WARGRAVE won back the Hedges Cup from visiting neighbours TWYFORD on Wednesday of last week with a narrow 71-69 five mixed triples victory. Dave Stonham, Adam Ellis and Martyn Mellor started well and went on to win 20-8. Philip Linstead, Jim Thompson and Jean Burton and Sue Patterson, Stan Coombs and Peter Burton saw Wargrave’s only two losing rinks.

Tony Boffin, Heather Annetts and Maurice Freeman dominated going 9-0 up over the first eight ends, Twyford gained a little ground before Wargrave won 16-10.

Chez Annetts, Vic Waite and Keith Sykes were even with wins alternating with each end. This was lead Chez Annetts’ first competitive match and the extra pressure affected her game with her only gaining shot on five occasions. Waite was Wargrave’s most consistent player, frequently holding two or three shots after his turn. The Twyford skip reduced the lead to one shot before Sykes often reversed the Twyford skip’s effort with his last wood. The rink finished with Wargrave 15-11 win.

SHIPLAKE went down to an 80-68 defeat at home to WOODLEY in a friendly fixture on Wednesday of last week. Shiplake’s winning two rinks were that of David Lloyd, Lorraine Walters and Mick Lovejoy, 18-8 and Callum Potter, Sue Reid and Janet Townley, 15-7.

On Saturday SHIPLAKE went down to an 85-74 Oddfellows Triples League defeat away at PALMER PARK.

The visitors started well on all five rinks, winning on two rinks and drawing on one. Margaret Bullock, Keith Walters and Graham Kennedy drew 16-16 while Sandra Gough, Dave Bullock and Tony Reid won 19-13 and Jean Buckett, David Challis and Alan Gough, who were all square after 17 ends, scored two on the last end to win 15-13.

On Sunday SHIPLAKE ran out 90-61 winners in their friendly clash with MAIDENHEAD THICKET.

There were Shiplake wins for Laurie Mowatt, Sandra Gough and John Townley, 20-13, Neil Warley, Ruth Copp and Janet Townley, 25-11, Marilyn Mowatt, Margaret Bullock and Jeff Harris, 17-8 and Jenny Ward, Dave Bullock and Wendy Cross, 19-7.