Victoria defeated St Andrews in the Weston Mixed League, thanks to both away rinks winning handsomely.

Victoria played local rivals St Andrews in the Weston Mixed League and surprisingly, it was a day for all the away rinks of both clubs as they all won.

The difference was that Victoria’s managed more shots. The away rink of Hannah Frye, Bill Nicholls, Graham Richards and skip Malcolm Campbell won by an emphatic 30 shots, with excellent performances from all with Frye at lead having the game of her life.

Lee Stocker skipped the other away rink of Sam Stocker, Kay Wilson and Roy Bromet and won by 14 shots.

At home, both rinks skipped by Mike Cooper and Mike Stocker suffered marginal defeats of just five and three shots, but it was still a welcome win of 36 shots and a reward of 12 points.

Victoria 77 (12), St Andrews 41(4) - home rinks: L Kelly, R Bailey, M Milliner, M Cooper 12-17; P Coumis, S Milliner, M Chudley, M Stocker 12-15. Away: S Stocker, K Wilson, R Bromet, L Stocker 20-6; H Frye, W Nicholls, G Richards, M Campbell 33-3.

The ladies of Victoria Bowling Club made history by holding an extraordinary general meeting and voted to amend the constitution and allow for three life memberships in the section.

The first recipient was Mildred Chudley, fully deserving this honour for her hard work and dedication over the past 15 years since the ladies’ section was formed.

Mildred has been secretary for the 15 years and has also in that time been champion on three occasions, handicap singles winner five times and has also nine other titles.

Mildred will now be able to give more time to her recent appointment of Somerset County indoor president. She will continue playing at Victoria and will also still be helping with the organisation of the catering and social events at the club.

DESPITE a fine victory by their four, St Andrews lost to a strong Clevedon team in the third round of the National Top Club competition.

Even with home advantage, Saints knew they would have their work cut out against the visitors, who included several internationals and county players.

With the mixed pair of 14-year-old Imogen Cracknell and her regular partner Steve Davies pitted against two current England players, the home club needed to win at least one of the opening two-wood singles to stand a chance.

However, after both had made promising starts, Carolina Venn and Ken Uglow lost by seven and 13 shots respectively as their opponents adjusted to the new St Andrews carpet.

Cracknell bowled well against England’s Laura Holden, but the mixed pair went down by 17. This meant that, with Clevedon having taken all eight points so far, Saints needed to win both the triples and fours by enormous margins to have a chance of going through.

Barrie Forse’s triple were always struggling on the tricky middle rink, finishing 12 shots down. But the four, skipped by the outstanding Don Bailey, withstood a late comeback by Clevedon to salvage something for Saints with a seven-shot victory.

St Andrews 4, Clevedon 12 - two-wood singles – ladies: C Venn 10-17; men: K Uglow 9-22; pairs: I Cracknell, S Davies 10-27; triples: R McMillan, D Johnston, B Forse 11-23; fours: J Forse, K Curtis, M Favis, D Bailey 21-14.

While St Andrews were battling against Clevedon on rinks two and three, two of their best players, Andrew Owens and Craig Walker, were on rink one, bidding to reach the area semi-final of the national pairs against Taunton Deane’s Matt Hamilton and James Amery.

After an enthralling, high-quality contest, lasting nearly four hours and with several killed ends, Owens and Walker snatched a five in the closing stages to win by seven shots.

This was one of several individual successes for St Andrews last week. Barrie Forse reached the area final of the over-60 singles, with a four-shot win over John Parsons at Donyatt.

Forse and Ken Uglow had a terrific victory in the county pairs, 25-17 away to Clarrie Dunbar’s Liberty Trophy pair John Freeman and Keith Bailey, during which they picked up a seven on one end.

Both Forse and Uglow were also successful in the county singles, the former having beaten J Gover 21-4 at home, while Uglow won 21-17 at Street against D Garland.

Forse and Owens were both in the Somerset Liberty Cup team who lost narrowly to Dorset at Poole.

In the Weston Mixed League, St Andrews won both away rinks against Victoria. However, the two home fours both went down heavily against superior opposition.

St Andrews 41, Victoria 78 – home: D Cooper, R Morgan, S Priory, G Cooper 3-33; J Forse, G Williams, A Cooper, R Venn 6-20. Away: L Yeates, R Smith, S Sinclair, R Gill 15-12; I Cracknell, P Smart, R Brereton, B Cracknell 17-13.

Wedmore had a fine home win in a mixed friendly against Chew Stoke with an overall score of 49 shots to 30.

Beryl Carson’s side were fast out of the blocks, but Chew Stoke caught up and went into the lead from end five until end 10, when Wedmore reclaimed the lead. Four ends later in this closely-fought match, the sides were level, but Wedmore put together a winning sequence of 12 shots in the last four ends to triumph 26-14.

Alan Birch’s group were also in a close tussle with the lead changing hands and all level with five ends to go. Again Wedmore finished strongly with 11 shots and won 23-16.

In a ladies’ friendly at home to St Andrews, Wedmore were less successful with one rink gained by each club and an overall adverse score of 27-42.

Beryl Carson’s team were in a ding-dong struggle with the lead swapping until Wedmore looked in the driving seat, leading 17-11 with three ends to go. St Andrews took them all, gaining four shots so the home team won 17-15.

Marie Trow’s ladies were in touch with their opponents for the early ends, but could not prevent them running away later on to go down 10 shots to 27.

Wedmore club treasurer and founder member Maureen Hordle has won many titles in the club over the years and distinguished herself this year in the county competition for the champion of champions.

Maureen reached the final having overcome some stiff opposition. She said: “I didn’t realise it was the final until the umpire told me on arrival. I played well but was beaten by a national level player.”