Narrow shootout defeats see Avenue knocked out of Top Club

Avenues Peter Hooper hands out advice during his sides friendly clash with Banbury Chestnuts. Picture: Morris Troughton

Both singles games ended with a last-end shootout, with Adam Smith losing 20-19 to Tony Hawes in the two-woods and Andy Smith going down 21-18 to Paul Robbins in the four-woods.

Pairs Nick Walker and Luke Edwards just got the better of Graham and Dan Box 14-12, while the fours saw Mark Smith, Bill Port, R Maries and Matt Wordingham edge out Steve Williams, Mark Huckfield, Percy Hickman and Mark Hancock 18-15.

The triples was always going to be a big ask for Avenue on Little Compton’s favoured rink one and so it proved as Pete Hooper, Ron Walton and Phil Wadland went down 24-12 to G Huckfield, Dave Rushby and Neil Hancox.

Avenue’s ladies cruised through their Top Club clash at Royal Leamington Spa, however.

Lynn Houghton beat B Claridge 21-8 in the singles, while Yvonne Pick and Lisa Smith were comfortable 30-12 winners over C Brayne and Lyn Williams in the pairs.

A 24-16 win for Chris Barton’s rink over Elizabeth Glynne-Jones meant the triples was curtailed after 18 ends, with Binky Herbert taking it 21-15 over Margaret Lawson to get Spa on the board.

A resounding 24-11 success for Ray White proved pivotal in Royal Leamington Spa’s three-rink triples friendly against Avenue.

Avenue won the other two rinks through Tony Kent (14-11) and Dean Whyte (16-14) but White’s victory meant Spa took the spoils by eight shots.

Avenue suffered a 95-82 defeat to Banbury Chestnuts in their five-rink mixed triples.

Luke Edwards (24-15) and John Harris (23-16) recorded Avenue’s successes.

Meanwhile, the previous week, Avenue let slip a 7-1 lead to go down 22-19 to Lillington in the Ivens Cup.