Heartbreak for Hamblin Trophy side

Andover's Hamblin Trophy team relinquished their hold on the competition - won for the last three years - in yesterday's match in Winchester against Littleton.

Needing to win, or experience only a narrow defeat, given the shot difference, Andover won one rink but lost the other to lose the match by a combined score across both rinks of 35-42: a shot difference of -7 when -6 (or better) would have ensured the Trophy stayed with us for the fourth year in a row.

To lose the title by one shot across the eight matches of the competition was was a cruel and desperately sad outcome for the teams - Mark Slade, Les Reeves, Gordon Bazley and Sue Milton; and Jackie Kingston, Cynthia Hamilton, Lesley Taylor and Pete Anthony - who put up a brave fight on the day but for whom two weeks without a game - a quirk of the fixture list - cannot have helped preparations for this final game. Commiserations to each and every one; and congratulations to Littleton, this year's winners of the Trophy.

In the search for a silver lining, the team did bring home prize money for their efforts, which will go into Club funds.