Victoria Park comes into sight for Avenue quartet

The measuring equipment comes out during Avenue's home clash with Rugby Rail. Picture: Morris Troughton

Avenue’s rink of Andy Smith (skip), Lisa Smith, Adam Smith and Lynn Houghton (subbing for Moira Parsons) beat Ray White, Dawn Horne, Jerry Horne and Janice White 23-9.

Avenue ladies Margaret Lawson (skip), Christine Weare, Sally Hayes and Fran Parker put up a great performance in the over-55s at home to a more experienced Lillington side before succumbing to a 16-14 defeat.

Leading 8-6 after ten ends, they extended their advantage to four shots before the visitors fought back to lead 15-14 going into the final end.

The Lillington rink then sneaked a single on the last end to progress.

Avenue just managed to secure a 86-82 win in their triples match away to Home Guard despite winning just two of the five rinks.

The highest winning rink of John Harris (skip), Tony Kent and R Boalch were 5-3 up after five ends and had eased into a 13-4 lead by ten ends on their way to a 23-11 success.

Avenue’s only other winning rink of Tony Farmer (skip), Richard Muir and David Deakin found themselves 4-2 down after five ends but rallied to go 11-5 up at ten ends and went on to win 21-11.

Bill Port (skip), Terry Taylor and Richard Weare trailed 9-5 at ten ends on their way to an 18-15 defeat.

There were also reverses for Mark Smith (skip), Barry Connolly and Hazel Higgins who lost 22-11 and Mick Preedy (skip), Colin Thomas and Keith Orme who found themselves 6-1 down at five but kept in touch to lose 20-16 and ensure Avenue edged the overall victory.

There was no such trouble for Avenue in their first-ever fixture with Rugby Rail, with the home club winning all five rinks on their way to 102-76 success.

The highest winning rink was skipped by Phil Wadland, with Ron Walton, Karen Rheams and David Deakin, who raced into an 18-2 lead after ten ends.

They were 28-7 up at 18 ends and despite a late flurry from their visitors, completed a 28-12 victory.

John Harris (skip), Bill Port, Peter Hooper and Ray Pratt opened up a 7-2 lead at five ends, which they increased to ten shot by ten ends.

Again their visitors responded but it was too late as the Avenue quartet won out 19-15.

Mark Smith (skip), Richard Burroughs, Terry Taylor and Hazel Higgins fought back from 10-2 down after ten ends to win 22-18, while Barry Connolly (skip), Richard Muir, Colin Thomas and Keith Orme edged a close-fought battle 18-17.

Tony Farmer (skip), Mick Preedy, Fred Sawyer and Fran Parker were also involved in a tight tussle, coming out on top by a shot, 15-14.