ALTON Social Bowling Club’s congested fixture list required the Bowls Hampshire Mixed Top Club and men’s National Top Club matches to be played on the same day.

The morning brought disappointment for the mixed team as they lost their grip on the trophy, going down to a strong Cove team.

The afternoon men’s Top Club encounter with Kingsclere was a tense affair, only decided by an extra end. Gary Johnson recorded a good win in the four-wood singles and with Barry Smith, George Roberts and Mark Fyfield always comfortably ahead in the triples, winning one more discipline would secure the victory. Easier said than done, with the rink 10 shots adrift and Dick Holden slipping to a two-shot defeat in the two-wood singles.

So it was down to the rink and pairs. Ken Ward/Dave Atwell had always been in contention, but the game slipped away in the last few ends. The rink of Marc Gorman, John Fensom, Gordon Summerhill and Adam White had fought back to lead by five, but back came Kingsclere and it went to an extra end. Everything came down to the last Kingsclere wood. Social, holding shot, survived and now face Alton again.

Alton Social ladies travelled to Oakley in the National Top Club. Social led in two disciplines, but Oakley had the final overall shots advantage.

Alton Social’s rinks team cemented their position at the top of the Basingstoke League with back-to-back 5-0 wins over St Mary Bourne and Howard Park.

The Stan Hardman League team, beaten only once this season, also top their section, while the Whitchurch League 2 side remain in mid-table.

Social’s interest in the men’s Hampshire singles ended with Adam White’s agonising 20-21 defeat. Social also lost in the National senior pairs and mixed pairs, men’s County two-wood singles and the ladies County pairs. However, there were wins in the National mixed pairs (M Holden/White) and men’s County pairs (R Holden /White). In an all-Social tie in the ladies County singles, Margaret Holden overcame Sheila Goodwin. It was another all-Social encounter in the pairs, with Hazel Marke /Margaret Holden coming through against Doreen Atkins/Marjorie Rowledge.

Atkins/Rowledge joined Sue Murray/Brenda Plumpton in the next round of the Golden Girls, while Sheila Goodwin had a fine win over Sheila Forrester (Hook BC) in the O55s singles.