Henley triple crash out of national competition

HENLEY went down to an
86-73 Oddfellows Triples League defeat at READING on Wednesday of last week after winning just two of the five rinks placed. The visitors picked up four league points to the hosts’ 10.

Steve Sullivan, with Romy Painter and John Munnelly, trailed until the 17th end when they picked up a four to level the score 14-14. However, on the last bowl of the game, Reading scored one to just edge it 15-14.

Kevin Browne, with Nigel Bridges and Joan Edwards, were Henley’s highest winning rink having started slowly. They were level at 6-6 after seven ends then took control scoring 18 over the final ends to win 24-9.

Norman Daniells, with Jo Wilson and Martin Cranstoun, were evenly matched 7-7 after nine ends but failed to score again going down 27-7. Simon Hatcher, with Chris Swann and Sally Daniells, struggled from the start going down 25-5. Dave Wilson, with Karen Wakeling and Peter Menhinick, started strongly, were 10 up after five ends, were pulled back to 10-6 by the ninth end then pulled away to win 23-10.

On Thursday, HENLEY ran out 86-77 winners in their home five mixed triples Plomer Cup match with DIDCOT. Henley picked up seven points to the visitors’ five.

Dave Wilson, with Andrea Tate and Peter Falle, were Henley’s highest winning rink, started strongly and were 11 up after seven ends. Although they dropped three on the next end, they then pulled away to win 30-8.

Peter Menhinick, with Jo Wilson and Angelika Crisa, were evenly matched at 8-7 after nine ends then gradually eased away to win 16-12. Joan Edwards, with Romy Painter and Simon Hatcher, started strongly leading 9-1 after five ends, dropped four on the next end but were still in the lead after 12 ends 13-10. The lead then changed hands a number of times, Henley dropped five to lose the lead then regained it again with three on the 16th but dropped one and a three on the last two ends to lose 18-19.

Norman Daniells, with Karen Wakeling and John Munnelly, were evenly matched 8-8 after 10 ends, pulled away to lead 14-9 after 15 ends but Didcot then fought back over the final ends to draw 14-14. Nigel Bridges, with Melinda Swann and Sally Daniells, were fairly evenly matched, trailing 11-7 after nine ends but then fell away to go down 24-8.

HENLEY had further Plomer Cup success on Saturday when they defeated visitors WATLINGTON 101-79. The win gave Henley eight points to the visitors four.

Ian Gibson, with Karen Wakeling and John Munnelly, had an uphill task after Watlington gained six shots on the third end and another six on the fourth. Henley never recovered and went down 21-11.

Kevin Browne, with Angelika Crisa and Dougie Duguid, made a good start, racing to a 20 shot lead by the fifth end and stretching the margin to 27 by the ninth. They finished as Henley’s highest winning rink, 38-4.

Peter Menhinick, with Romy Painter and Keith Lawrence, started strongly and were nine shots ahead after four ends. Although Watlington fought back to close the gap to just two by the 12th end, Henley didn’t lose another end and pulled away to win 24-11.

Pete Falle, with Glynis Holland and David Palmer, were involved in a close match with the lead changing hands nine times. Henley held their nerve to edge out a 16-15 win.

Ramsay Adams, with Richard Kingston and Martin Cranstoun, were always behind and unable to get into the game, eventually losing 28-12.

Also on Saturday HENLEY’S men’s triple of Dave Wilson, Kevin Currill and Simon Hatcher went down to narrow 18-17 defeat at LEAMINGTON SPA in the first round of the national finals.

On Sunday HENLEY ran out narrow 76-75 Oddfellows Triples League winners at home to title challengers BURGHFIELD. Henley won on three rinks and so took 10 of the 14 points available. Norman Daniells, with Angelika Crisa and Peter Watkins, were Henley’s highest winning rink and although they were evenly matched 7-7 after eight ends, they raced to a 22-8 win.

Ian Gibson, with Joan Edwards and Martin Cranstoun, were 7-4 behind after seven ends when Cranstoun was replaced by David Burdon. The teams were evenly matched at 15-14 after 17 ends with Henley scoring four to finish 19-14 winners.

Peter Menhinick, with Andrea Tate and Pete Falle, started with a three but were 5-3 down at the fifth end. The teams were evenly matched from there on in and although Henley were 9-8 behind after 13 ends they pulled away to win 14-12.

Kevin Browne, with Richard Kingston and Sally Daniells, were evenly matched 9-8 after nine ends and 14-14 after 16 ends but fell away on the last two ends going down 21-14. Gill Robins, with Glynis Holland and John Munnelly, started strongly being four up after five ends but then fell away, going down 20-7.

WARGRAVE went down to a narrow 68-64 four mixed triples friendly defeat at home to MAIDENHEAD TOWN on Saturday with both sides winning two rinks each.

Tony Boffin, Stan Crooks and Norah Holder had a tough start being eight shots down by end six but an outstanding 14th end saw Wargrave win by seven shots and helped them to a 21-18 victory.

Chez Annetts, Martyn Mellor and Peter Burton were ahead the entire game and were eight up on end 10 but two good ends of four shots bought Maidenhead within one shot on the final end. The visitors went on to win 18-16.

John Coombes, Heather Annetts and John Tegg went down 20-11 while Tony Annetts, Jim Thompson and Jean Burton won 16-12.

On Wednesday of last week SHIPLAKE went down to a heavy 104-61 Oddfellows Triples League defeat at BURGHFIELD. Shiplake’s only winning rink was that of Callum Potter, David Challis and Wendy Cros, 20-11.

On Saturday SHIPLAKE went down to a 104-61 Plomer Cup defeat at home to HAGBOURNE. Shiplake’s only winning rink was that of Keith Walters, Elaine Robinson and Graham Kennedy, 17-14.