IT has been a bitter-sweet two weeks for Alton Social bowlers in national and county competitions.

Margaret Holden’s good form deserted her in the Hampshire Singles quarter-finals as Annie Pearce from Atherley rolled back the years. But poor form is never permanent and Holden teamed up with Hazel Marke in the County Pairs to record two fairly comfortable wins and reach the final.

The new combination of Lesley Johnson and Margaret Holden played Andover duo Lesley Taylor and Cynthia Hamilton for a place at the National Senior Pairs championships. The Social pair won through by 17 shots to 15.

However, Margaret lost 21-19 to Liz Russell (Atherley) in the Senior Singles and, teamed with Adam White in the National Mixed Pairs, lost on the extra end after having a comfortable lead.

There was a disappointing end to this year’s campaign in the men’s Hampshire competitions as Adam White, Dick Holden, Basa Smith and Mark Fyfield slipped to a single-shot defeat against Woolston BC and then a four-shot loss in the triples to Emsworth.

Social ladies beat both Cove and Basingstoke Town in the Thornbery Trophy to reach the semi-finals. In an all-Social affair in the County Golden Girls, Marjorie Rowledge edged out Brenda Plumpton.

This Sunday, Friends of Bowls England visit Alton Social to play a match as part of the club’s celebration of their new facility. A match against Bowls England follows on Friday, July 28.