A change in areas by the English Indoor Bowling Association has meant that some of the top players at St Andrews have been drawn against their clubmates in national championships.

There were four local derbies last week, the best of them featuring men’s pairs between Barrie Forse/Phil Villis and Dave Fairhurst/Lee Stocker.

In a match of some great bowls, Fairhurst and Stocker came back from 12-8 down to lead 14-12 going into the last end. An extra end looked likely, with Forse and Villis holding two, but a well-weighted bowl from Stocker won the game.

Forse had a busy week, being involved in two other local-derby nationals. He and Saints’ women’s captain Sue Sinclair beat Carolina Venn and Jack Angove 16-13 in the mixed pairs.

Then Forse and clubmate Rich Withers came up against each other in the two-bowl singles, with Forse prevailing 21-10 against his opponent.

Finally, two strong Saints’ teams clashed in the men’s pairs, with Craig Walker and Angove proving too good for Anthony Page and Withers, winning 24-4 with five ends to spare.

The problem for Saints’ winners is that, because they are all at the bottom of the draw, their future matches will be away, with the exception of Forse, who plays clubmate Ken Uglow in the two-bowl singles